Scrutiny on death of Tongan worker

A TONGAN man in Queensland with the government-run Seasonal Worker Program has become the 14th person to die while working on the controversial scheme.

The 35-year-old man had been working on a farm in the Bundaberg region and is believed to have been discovered dead in his accommodation early Thursday morning.

The death comes just weeks after a special investigation by News Corp revealed 13 workers had died on the Seasonal Worker Program, with extreme neglect allegedly contributing to a number of deaths and serious injuries.

A Queensland Police spokesman said officers were called to the property shortly before 7am Thursday.

He said an autopsy would be conducted to determine the cause of death, which at this stage was not considered suspicious.

Designed to alleviate labour shortages on Australian farms and to provide foreign aid for Pacific nations, the Seasonal Worker Program began as a pilot in 2009.

There have been 13 deaths since it became official in 2012, at least eight of them in Queensland.

A Workplace Health and Safety spokesman said the office was aware of the death and inquiries were being made.

A spokesman for the Department of Jobs and Small Business, which oversees the program said the Government was “aware of the sad death”.

“We express our deepest condolences to the worker’s family and friends and the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga,” he said.

“On (Friday), departmental representatives arrived at the location to meet with the worker’s colleagues and other affected persons.

“The department will not provide further details in relation to this participant out of respect for the family and community.”