Ross Johnson looked after Christine like she was his granddaughter. When he came to collect her possessions from her country Victorian home he was floored by some of the stories her friends told him about their workplaces.
Christine Lewailagi would travel to Melbourne on weekends and spend time with Ross Johnson and family.The Fiji an government is investigating the death of an abattoir worker in the regional Victorian city of Warrnambool.
In the wake of her death, Ms Lewailagi's next of kin in Australia have revealed numerous allegations of racism and poor treatment of PALM workers across Australia, including threats of termination and accusations of restrictions around accessing health care and sick leave. Ms Lewailagi's friends shared stories about the plight of PALM workers across Australia that he equated to "modern slavery".
Two days after it received that report Ms Lewailagi died after undergoing two surgeries for a brain tumour."Maybe if it was easier for her to go and get medical treatment maybe she could have been saved," Mr Johnson said. "For the record, we completely reject those allegations and the fact we have a waitlist of PALM workers waiting to join Midfield demonstrates that the scheme is working in the sense of a functioning mutual partnership."
Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka shared a post on social media stating his government was aware of her death and Mr Johnson's comments, and that Fiji's Australian-based representatives were working to ensure all issues are "properly investigated and resolved"."The ministry is fully aware of the situation," the statement read.
Palm Death Fiji Pacific Worker Investigation Christine Lewailagi Ross Johnson Pacific Australia Labour Mobility
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