Ex-staff confirm traveller abuse

Staff allege they saw backpackers assaulted at the Panda Motel in Childers.

Gary Hutchison

FORMER staff of the Panda Motel and East Bundaberg Backpackers have backed up claims of unreasonable work conditions made by foreign fruit pickers in the NewsMail this week.

Employers identified as Max Posun, also known as Mehmet, and Calie Unwin, also known as Kelly Posun, were named as the lessees and owners of an operation involving two hostels and two contracting companies.

Claims against the pair have led the workplace rights ombudsman to open a new inquiry into working conditions in the region.

Peter Pader said he worked for the business for about five weeks and claimed he witnessed Mr Posun slap workers, refuse them water and force drivers to operate unroadworthy buses.

“You think he treats foreigners bad. Then you should see how he treats locals,” Mr Pader said.

“I’ve also seen him slap two guys. They were either Indian or Bangladeshi.”

Mr Pader claimed one reason European workers were hired was so they could be fired in front of Indian workers, spurring them to work harder.

“He uses it for fear. They’re all scared of him,” he said.

Mr Pader said the only reason he continued working was because he “couldn’t bear leaving the workers”.

“A lot of the time I went home and got them some tarps, and they were crying they were so thankful that someone cared,” he said.

“It was the same when I went out to take them water.

“I had to refuse to drive the bus a few times because it was too unsafe. They wanted me to drive a bus that had no door for a bit there. RACQ told me to take the buses off the road.”

A former receptionist, who did not want to be identified for fear of retribution, agreed the buses used were unsafe.

“None of the doors on the buses worked properly,” she said.

“There was no way to get out of the emergency window if there was an accident and they used to cram way too many people on there.”

Both employees said they had not been paid correctly for the hours they worked.

The NewsMail contacted Mr and Mrs Posun for comment, but they refused.