A WAR of words has broken out about where the responsibility lies to stop people working illegally on farms in Wellington Shire.
Wellington mayor Darren McCubbin said it was up to those with information about people working illegally to contact the Department of Immigration.
"While illegal workers are not directly a council responsibility we are concerned about this and we do have a role in advocating for our community,'' Cr McCubbin said.
"It is important that we, as a community, tackle this issue together so I would encourage anyone with information about illegal workers to contact the Department of Immigration.''
Cr McCubbin said he had recently raised the issue at the Gippsland Local Government Network.
"I raised the issue at GLGN because it is important that all councils are aware of the issue,'' he said.
Gippsland South MLA Peter Ryan said he did not condone the actions of those employing illegal workers.
"I never condone anyone breaking the law, and that is certainly the case in this instance with the use of people not appropriate for this work,'' he said.
"This is an issue that has plagued the horticulture industry in Victoria for a long time.
"But politicians should not be directly involved in law enforcement.
"That's about the last thing we want or need in Victoria and in Australia.''
However, local grape grower Tony Dawkins said it was up to local politicians to take leadership to stamp out the issue.
"Politicians can be hard to find when you want to raise an issue with them,'' Mr Dawkins said.
"Just as the big vegetable growers seem to be outsourcing the supply and welfare of their work force to others, with devastating consequences, so too are the local politicians looking to fend off any responsibility.
"Passing the buck seems to be a contagious game here in Gippsland.
"Only I don't think it's any kind of game for exhausted illegal workers, sleeping eight abreast on mattresses on garage floors in Gippsland towns.
"Do (politicians) think that, because these workers are without proper work permits, that their welfare ceases to be an issue and we don't have to worry about them?
"Do they think that the 500 plus jobs that are now no longer available to local, backpacker or other legal workers is a good thing for Gippsland?
"I don't.
"Do they think that it is OK for farmers to exploit the appalling circumstances of many of these illegal workers?
"I don't.''
Mr Dawkins said it was time for politicians and farmers alike to start planning for the future of the horticulture industry.
"These are all local issues that require local solutions,'' he said.
"And for anyone to suggest there is no role for our elected representatives in this is bunkum.
"This is exactly the sort of difficult problem that we as electors expect them to solve for us.
"They have the resources, the contacts and influence, and most importantly our mandate to lead us through difficult issues.
"So lets see some action.''
Anyone with information regarding people working illegally in the area should phone the Immigration Dob In line on 1800 009 623.