Authorities in far north Queensland warn against ‘another Childers’

Authorities fear another Childers-style tragedy if action is not taken against illegals hostels in far north Queensland.  
The Sunday Mail reports unscrupulous landlords in Cairns, Tully and Innisfail are cramming up to 12 people in three-bedroom houses with beds blocking exits, no smoke alarms and overloaded power points.

Cassowary Coast Regional Council Mayor Bill Shannon said a crackdown had been launched to prevent another Childers, where fire killed 15 people in 2000. He said high demand for fruit pickers and a shortage of accommodation was fuelling the problem.

“The landlords are part of a sophisticated operation that exploits backpackers and endangers their lives,” he said.

Some houses are operating “time share mattresses”, where shift workers on different day and night rosters share the same bed. They are charged up to $150 each per week to live in makeshift hostels, with guaranteed farm work and a pick-up and drop-off service.

Bundaberg Regional Council Mayor Lorraine Pyefinch called on state and federal governments to tackle the problem before a tragedy occurs.

By Martin Lane  ·  December 3rd, 2009 at 10:20 am

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Comments


  1. Jayne Martin -Lewis
    3 Dec 09
    2:08 pm

    2. Hi

    I agree totally, we have to stop this illegal type of ‘backpackers’. ?
    The same is happening all over Australia and Tasmania, in the form of ‘House sharing’ too.

    Government and local councils need to address this and act urgently to prevent any further tradgeies occuring and also to protect the legitamet backpackers operations who have to comply with all rules and regulations to enable operation.

  2. Macca
    3 Dec 09
    5:23 pm

    3. This new practice of mattress renting is becoming to common across the nation. Introduced by “gangmaster” labour contractors that have been reported of procuring illegal workers from Asian and India to supply cheap labour. Hiring derelict houses and transport workers to work sites charging for both.

    A number of such boarding houses have been raid in Melbourne that have found accommodating international students. One raid came after a man under investigation for allegedly cramming up to 90 Nepalese students into “appalling and squalid” conditions into three houses. Another was reported of owning up to 100 houses

    Like Jayne Government and local council’s must act to protect the legitament backpacker operator and the backpacker

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