Amanda Vanstone (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for the question. The question gives me the opportunity to highlight my understanding of this issue, which I think puts paid to the lie, in effect, being told by those who say that skilled migrant workers who come to Australia are vulnerable and cannot look after themselves. I say that because the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs received a complaint with respect to this matter on 22 August. In fact, I am advised that there were two contacts made on that day: one by way of an email from a woman whose name I do not know and whose name, I believe, is not known to the department; and one through a visit to the department by Mr Zhang. I am further advised that someone from a union who was purporting to represent the workers then contacted the department on 4 September.

I make that point to indicate that these people actually complained themselves and, in addition, complained through an intermediary of theirs—this particular woman who sent the email. That was on 22 August. An interview was conducted on 23 August—that is, the next day. The next day we went out and conducted interviews, and a subsequent interview, I understand, was held on 28 August because this involved another department. And investigations into this matter are continuing. I do not have advice with respect to details of any other staff that may be employed by this particular employer but it is clear, on the face of some remarks—if they are properly reported—that the employer certainly has not understood his obligations and has not done the right thing.

It is a similar case to one that was brought to light by some Filipino chefs in the ACT—a case that received much notoriety. Senator Lundy raised this matter, I think, in February. Some three or four months after the workers had raised it themselves, and when the matter was under investigation, Senator Lundy, hearing that there might be something she could jump on the bandwagon about, decided to raise it as an issue. The point that I make here is simply this: the issue was that some skilled migrant workers took the opportunity to complain. Because of that an investigation was held into those restaurants. As a consequence of the findings of that investigation, the local authority decided to do further investigation. And what did it find? Australian workers were being underpaid and were not complaining. It is only because the Filipino workers were here that the local authorities bothered to investigate the restaurant trade in the ACT.

That shows that people who come here as skilled migrants are skilled migrants. They have a significant contribution to offer. They are not incapable of complaining. I encourage them to complain. I encourage anybody to complain if they think that they have, in some way, been mistreated. I finish by simply making the point—