"Goodbye", page-53

''stip immigration would be my starting point ''

stop immigration eh?

and who would fix your teeth, who would be your doctor, who would pick the crops, who would work on the farms, who would do the security work in the supermarkets, who would clean the supermarkets

etc etc

the national economy would stop - like a mini hitting a train

notice that farm workers still came in in covid? - why?

because you'd starve without them

but, please - do continue on with your rabid calls - some political nutter will pick up on the craziness.
Not the Liberal party though - because they do the bidding of business and it's the Business council who are the ones who request all the foreign workers -------- so - you'll only appeal to the insane types

you want to stop immigration ------------- you die. Simple.

Australia brought in farm workers during the COVID-19 pandemic as essential workers. Here are the key points:
1. Agricultural workers were classified as essential workers during the pandemic[2]. The Australian government recognized that "feeding our nation is an essential service" and ensured that agricultural production and supply chains could continue operating.
2. In April 2020, the Australian government announced that Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP) and Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) workers could apply for a 12-month Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa to continue working legally in critical sectors during the pandemic[3].
3. Australia depends heavily on temporary visa holders for agricultural labor. About 7% of the Australian workforce holds a temporary visa, with many working in agriculture[4].
4. When international borders closed in March 2020, approximately 8,000 seasonal workers (over 7,000 in the SWP and 1,000 in the PLS) became stranded in Australia[3]. The government worked to keep these workers employed and safe.
5. As labor shortages emerged due to border closures, the government took steps to maintain the agricultural workforce:
- A new agriculture visa was created[4]
- The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme was extended[4]
- International students were given unlimited work rights[4]
6. The government and approved employers put significant effort and finances into assisting Pacific nations and stranded workers, including partially or entirely funding quarantine for returning workers for a period of time[3].
7. However, the pandemic also highlighted existing issues with temporary worker programs, including exploitation and wage theft[4]. Many advocacy groups called for reforms to better protect migrant workers' rights and wages.
In summary, Australia did bring in and retain farm workers as essential workers during COVID-19, recognizing their crucial role in maintaining food security. However, this process also exposed underlying issues in the treatment and management of temporary agricultural workers.

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8909973/
[2] https://www.agriculture.gov.au/coronavirus/food-agriculture
[3] https://www.internationalaffairs.or...losures-australias-seasonal-worker-programme/
[4] https://www.humanrights.unsw.edu.au...ustralia-migrant-workers-exploitation-rampant
[5] https://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/research-topics/agricultural-workforce/labour-use/2022