It is probably the whole country and the whole agricultural industry. Can't really go anywhere in a rural town without seeing bus loads of islander labour everywhere. I don't know what their pay and conditions are like. The stories you heard when the industry relied on backpackers weren't great so I am not hopeful. I guess Robert Towns was way ahead of his time. You would think with all the underpayments it would be reflected in Colesworths prices.
rcbrk in news
Bitter fruit: the dark underside of the booming NSW blueberry industry
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/oct/04/nsw-blueberry-industry-farm-labour-loopholes-dark-undersideThis shit has been going on for many decades in the horticulture industry here, and already came to a head years ago: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-14/australias-farm-industry-seasonal-workers-exploited-labour-short/100687182
Further context for those not familiar with Australia: "every worker on every farm is entitled to take home the minimum casual rate of pay, currently [in 2021] $25.41 per hour."
It is probably the whole country and the whole agricultural industry. Can't really go anywhere in a rural town without seeing bus loads of islander labour everywhere. I don't know what their pay and conditions are like. The stories you heard when the industry relied on backpackers weren't great so I am not hopeful. I guess Robert Towns was way ahead of his time. You would think with all the underpayments it would be reflected in Colesworths prices.