THE Italian Consulate will be holding information seminars in Fremantle for the latest wave of migrants to help them negotiate new visa rules and avoid being ripped off by unscrupulous employers.
Consul general David Balloni said despite the tail-off in the mining boom, there were still many Italian professionals moving to Western Australia to work in the industry.
Despite the number of backpackers starting to dwindle as Italy’s economy recovers, he says they’re still struggling to deal with Australia’s new immigration laws that force them to move from one job to another after six months and spend a year in the countryside to earn an extended stay.
“There’s a lot of questions dealing with Australian visas, and we can’t answer for people to get them, but we are trying to give them tools and sources of information which are reliable,” Mr Balloni told the Herald.
• Visiting chefs Stefano Lotmolo and Dennis De Vita prepare some authentic foccacia for L’Antica owner Ashlley Wallace, Italian consul general David Balloni and Fremantle mayor Brad Pettitt.
He said there were also complaints about workers being underpaid, but generally he thinks the migration program between Italy and Australia has been a great success and has strengthened ties between the country.
The information sessions will be held in October.
South Fremantle restaurateur Ashlley Wallis says he’s been a beneficiary of the program, having picked up two chefs who’ve brought specialist regional knowledge to his pizza boutique L’Antica.
He says customers of Italian descent have driven to Freo from the hills after hearing about his authentic foccacia, but it’s under threat because the backpacker laws means the pair will have to leave after just six months.
“I could sponsor them, that’s easy enough, but you spend money training them and it’s all working really well, and then they have to leave,” Mr Wallace says.
“They should simplify the system.”
Dennis Di Vita did his stint out in the bush picking fruit to earn his extra year in Australia, and says while he knew the rules when he arrived, his new job has allowed him to rent a house and buy a car. He’d like to settle here one day.
by STEVE GRANT
