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MPs speak out to allay asylum seeker fears

Posted on October 24, 2011

By BEN PISCIONERI

SUNRAYSIA’S State and Federal representatives have played down fears of an influx of asylum seekers to Sunraysia after the Gillard Government abandoned its push for changes to migration laws earlier this month.

The Federal Government was unable to get enough support in Parliament for changes to migration laws that would allow for offshore processing of asylum seekers, after the Greens refused to support the move.

It sparked fears in some sectors of an “invasion” of asylum seekers with bridging visas, looking for work in fruit growing areas while their applications are processed.

Member for Mallee John Forrest, ABOVE, said asylum seekers working in Sunraysia is nothing new.

“It won’t be anything new for Sunraysia, it’s been happening for a decade,” he said yesterday.

“That’s the grim reality of onshore processing, but in terms of being positive, we’ve really got to be welcoming these people.

“They’re coming to Mildura because we’ve got work for them.

“I always dread the harvest season because growers are always trying to get labour, it’s a massive problem.”

However, Mr Forrest said there were other issues related to asylum seekers, including the extra load on Australia’s social security system, issues he laid squarely at the feet of the Federal Government.

Member for Mildura Peter Crisp meanwhile said that while asylum seekers had helped relieve labour shortages, he hoped the Federal Government took into account the massive changes to Sunraysia’s horticulture industry over the past decade.

“Sunraysia and the Goulburn Valley have been the starting point for a lot of people who have immigrated to Australia and performed manual labour and it’s been very successful,” Mr Crisp said.

“However I”m hoping the Commonwealth are very sensitive to where and when they send these people because employment opportunities have changed dramatically in recent years.”

Mr Crisp said Sunraysia doesn’t have the requirement for manual fruit pickers it used to, nor are there the same amount of fruit growing properties.

“Let’s hope they aren’t working on a 100-year history of Mildura and Shepparton being the first port of call for numerous immigrants, we just have to be careful,” he said.

“However, I know that the Sunraysia Mallee Ethnic Communities Council do offer a lot of help to people who are first arrivals here and they do an excellent job and people are arriving here pretty regularly.”

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