Seasonal worker may never work again

By Talaia Mika 05 March 2024, 11:00PM

The Chief Executive Officer of Commerce, Industry and Labour, Pulotu Lyndon Chu Ling has confirmed that it is possible that the seasonal worker who is being accused of sexual assault in Australia will not be given a second chance at the scheme once he is deported to Samoa.

As the C.E.O formerly responsible for the seasonal work program when it was under the M.C.I.L, Pulotu stressed that under the normal policies and procedures, any Samoan seasonal worker involved in such matters and deported to Samoa will either be banned from the scheme for life or get served with whatever order from the country he or she is deported from.

Police in Australia last month have charged another Samoan seasonal worker in Australia, a 25-year-old as a new defendant for the sexual assault and robbery of a teenage girl in New South Wales.

If the man is convicted, he may serve his sentence in Australia and then be deported home.

"Things like that, the government will always try and facilitate and when the seasonal work scheme was under our ministry, my understanding is when it comes to such cases, it depends on the reason for deportation from partnering countries like New Zealand and what charges is he being charged with," Pulotu said.

"If he is being deported with an order from the foreign court that Samoa should do something about him then we should.

"But if he is being deported after all his punishment has been served overseas and without another order, then the government will not do anything else.

"However, the only thing he will be getting is that he will never be allowed back in the seasonal work scheme."

ABC News reported that a 17-year-old girl was allegedly ambushed and sexually assaulted at 7:30 pm on 10 November at Arrawarra Headland, north of Coffs Harbour.

Meanwhile, a 34-year-old Samoan man was charged on November 13 but police say the charges against him were now being reviewed as DNA 'significantly changed' investigation.

Police in Australia have now charged another Samoan seasonal worker in Australia, a 25-year-old as a new defendant for the sexual assault and robbery of a teenage girl in New South Wales.


By Talaia Mika 05 March 2024, 11:00PM
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