A migrant farm worker was pressured by his boss to quit and return to his home country after getting a $700 hospital bill for a bleeding nose, only to be later diagnosed with a brain tumour.
The young man's story is one example of the "dire" living and workplace conditions faced by seasonal workers in rural areas, according to a report by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute.
Workers under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme were particularly vulnerable to high housing costs and poor living standards because their visa did not allow them to change employers or locations.
PALM workers in three states reported living in cramped and expensive rooms, cabins or caravan parks provided by labour hire companies, leading to poor wellbeing and rapid spread of illnesses.
One worker said the accommodation was like "living in a box", while others described having to sleep on piles of clothes because there was no room to store their things.
Those who began looking for private accommodation said they faced discrimination, with landlords specifically telling PALM workers not to apply for rentals in their Facebook ads.
The researchers were told some landlords judged applicants based on their surnames.
"Unless you're a John Stone or a Harrington, you're not gonna get a house," one participant said.
A young PALM worker told the researchers of going to a rural emergency department with a bleeding nose, then facing a $700 bill to pay up-front before he could reclaim under health insurance.
When he was not feeling well enough to work, his boss asked how he intended to pay for his accommodation and told him to return to his home country.
The worker soon came back to Australia to work for another employer, before suffering a relapse and being diagnosed with a brain tumour.
He was being cared for by a community member and receiving care at a public hospital, the report said.
While some PALM workers felt excluded from rural communities, others reported being welcomed by sports clubs and church groups.
The report recommended the PALM visa be adjusted to allow workers to change employers, which would minimise the risks of exploitation.
There should also be separate standards for seasonal and long-term accommodation, along with information for workers to help them advocate for better conditions.
"Our findings demonstrate the dire circumstances facing these groups of workers, many of whom live in crowded accommodation and lack the knowledge and power to raise complaints or advocate for improvements," the report said.
"This situation is untenable for all levels of government, as well as unions, advocacy organisations and local communities."
An inquiry into modern slavery risks faced by migrant workers in NSW has also raised concerns about how PALM visa conditions limit access to appropriate housing and healthcare.
The federal government is reviewing the PALM deed to ensure the protection of workers and to support the growth of the scheme, which fills critical gaps across agriculture.
