Keep the issue of modern slavery in the spotlight

I WRITE in support of Andrew Vivian’s article titled “Do it now” (NOTA, Page 1, 25/9/2026).

Thanks for keeping this incredibly vital issue in the spotlight. Thanks too, to local council members for pursuing this matter with a delegation to Parliament.

Exploitation, human rights abuses and yes, actual slave labour in our local agriculture business, has been a nasty open secret in the Coffs district for far too long.

I have personally been involved in advocating for fair treatment on behalf of local residents from Myanmar.

Many of these people are now Australian citizens – permanent residents who are busy paying rent and mortgages, paying taxes and contributing much to their new homeland.

Yet I have had to repeatedly threaten their blueberry farm owner-employers with legal action in order to eventually have outstanding wages paid, and in one case, ensure that unpaid superannuation payments were finally paid 12 months after they were due.

I also have a friend who helped two young female Japanese backpackers to reclaim their belongings and their passports from a farm “employer” who refused to pay them. When they complained, he locked them out.

They were able to get their belongings but weren’t paid for their labour.

If anyone still thinks we don’t have slave labour in this country, think again.

Regards,

Jill Kelly-Williams,

Toormina.