Ever since the 7-Eleven migrant worker scandal broke in 2015, there has been a regular flow of stories emerging about the systemic abuse of Australia’s various migrant worker programs.
The issue was highlighted in all of its hideous glory when the Senate Education and Employment References Committee released a scathing report entitled A National Disgrace: The Exploitation of Temporary Work Visa Holders, which documented the abuses of Australia’s visa system for foreign workers.
Despite this Senate report being released last year, there has so far been zero action from the federal government, with widespread rorting of Australia’s visa program continuing unabated.
Indeed, the Turnbull government recently put its bill to prevent worker exploitation on the backburner, delaying a vote – a full two years after the 7-Eleven wage scandal was exposed – amid an extensive behind-the-scenes lobbying campaign by the Franchise Council of Australia (FCA), led by former Liberal Small Business Minister Bruce Billson, aimed at watering down the legislation.
Last night, ABC’s 7.30 Report ran a segment on the issue (above) whereby it was revealed that Bruce Billson had received payments from the FCA while he was still a federal MP.
The segment is worth watching for no other reason than to watch Billson squirm in his chair when questioned over the FCA payments. When the ABC interviewer first asked Billson if he should have made the disclosure on his parliamentary register of interests he replied: “No, because I think it’s nonsense and utter crap” and got overly defensive (with his face turning tomato red).
As the saying goes, where there is smoke, there’s usually fire. And failure to declare income sources can be considered contempt of parliament, according to parliament’s rules (not that it matters now).
The sad reality is that there are now entire business lines, firms and sectors across Australia whose business models rely heavily on the systematic undermining of wages and, worse, running virtual slave labour.
We have seen this in service stations, fast food, convenience stores, agriculture, building, mining, accounting, IT, engineering, education, transport, the gig economy and no doubt it is even more widespread.
Meanwhile, the living standards of old and new residents in our major cities are being choked as they contend with stagnant wages growth, ever-rising congestion, deteriorating housing affordability, and overall reduced amenity.
The whole system is ripe for reform, but unlikely to happen in a meaningful way when lobbyists like the FCA are seemingly pulling the strings.
