Lord Tu’ivakanō’s warning over problems facing seasonal workers comes after trio rape teenage girls in NSW

Nobility MP Lord Tu’ivakanō has warned the House this week saying the government should report what it has done to help stop problems happening among some of the workers from Tonga to New Zealand and Australia.

Lord Tuʻivakanō. Photo/Tonga Legislative Assembly

Lord Tu’ivakanō said the scandal was a major embarrassment for the country.

He said there was a great concern about the problems and the Minister for Internal Affairs Hon Sangster Saulala should report to the House what the government has done so far.

The Minister admitted the problems had happened and some of them had been personal.

Hon Saulala said the government was focusing on solving the problems and they were planning towards.

NSW Police charge three Tongans

The concerns came after three Tongan men in Australia on working visas had been accused of sexually assaulting two teenage girls at a park in New South Wales towards the end of last year.

At the time, Police arrested four men – aged 21, 24 and 31 – at a Wingham business while another 21-year-old man was arrested at another place in Wingham.

The Australian reported the Emergency Services was called to Bent St in Wingham following reports two teenage girls had been sexually assaulted by three men at a nearby park.

Police alleged one of the men committed aggravated sexual intercourse with a child aged between 10 and 14.

All four men were taken to Taree police station; however, the 31-year-old man was released.

Minister for Internal Affairs Sangster Saulala

“The 21-year-old man was charged with aggravated sexual intercourse with a child (aged between 10 and 14 years), while the other 21-year-old was charged with two counts of intentionally sexually touching a child (aged between 10 and 16 years)”, reported The Australian.

“The 24-year-old man was charged with two counts of intentionally sexually touching a child (aged between 10 and 16 years).

The report said the three men were refused bail to appear at Taree Local Court.

“It is understood the men are in Australia on unskilled visas and had only recently completed hotel quarantine to start work in the Wingham area”, it said.

As Kaniva News previously reported, some of the problems involving the workers range from disorderly behavior caused by excessive drinking to extramarital affairs and some walking away from contracts to seek employment elsewhere.

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