Politicians, horticultural leaders and workers have slammed comments made by union boss John Setka, who suggested violent protesters should leave Melbourne and pick fruit in Mildura.
The CFMEU Victorian state secretary made the comments on ABC News Breakfast this week after anti-lockdown demonstrators smashed up the union's CBD headquarters and pelted Mr Setka with bottles and crates.
"They will not be working in our industry, we don't need people like that," Mr Setka said.
Mildura MP Ali Cupper said the remark was pointless and offensive.
"I completely condemn this comment, which draws our region into this debate completely unnecessarily and stigmatises not only our community, but also the job of fruit picking, which is so important," she said.
'Farmers have enough problems'
Sunraysia region fruit picker Viliami Vea said he did not understand why Mr Setka chose to single out Mildura.
"We are dealing alright with the farmers — they pay good money and we work hard," Mr Vea said.
"It is an important job — thousands of people come here from the Pacific Islands to earn money.
The United Workers Union declined to comment.
Mr Sekta has not returned the ABC's request for comment, but told local Mildura radio station River FM that it was a "tongue in cheek" comment.
"Some of the farmers have enough problems without having some of these people picking fruit," he said.
"It was a throwaway line, because you keep reading about a shortage of fruit pickers and I wouldn't wish them on anyone."
'Good quality of life'
Australian Table Grape chief executive Jeff Scott said Mr Setka's comments were unfair.
"He's degrading the quality of the work that fruit pickers do," he said.
Mr Scott said the comments were not a fair representation of the industry, but he was not concerned about reputational damage.
"I don't think there's a bad image at all, I think this might just reflect more on the image of the person that said it," he said.
"I mean, a lot of it is a media build up — the farm workers are paid the award rate and then way over that based on productivity.
"Right now, we need thousands of workers to come up to Mildura to do the harvest for this current season.
"We'd love to see a lot of people come up and enjoy the sunshine, enjoy the living conditions.
