Mother of murdered British backpacker working on Australian farm wants world to end farm work visas

The mother of a backpacker who was murdered while doing his compulsory farm work in the Australian region said the UK’s decision to remove the visa rule in a new trade deal is proof Boris Johnson recognizes that “the system is not secure”.

Mia Ayliffe-Chung, then 21, was stabbed to death by French tourist Smail Ayad in Home Hill in 2016 after working in a sugarcane field in Queensland to extend her visa.

Ms Aylifee told Daily Mail Australia she was surprised the UK cut the 88 days of agricultural work needed to extend tourist visas to Australia under a new trade deal – but was happy that they did – because persistent use of the system is a ‘scar on the nation’.

Britons under the age of 35 will be allowed to live and work in Australia for three years without having to do agricultural work under the UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement.

“The damage to the reputation of your country caused by this law, I am disgusted that you call yourself the civilized country,” she said on Saturday.

“It became my life because she was my only daughter. She was everything to me, I lost everything.

Mia Ayliffe, then only 21, was stabbed to death by French tourist Smail Ayad in Home Hill in 2016 after working in a Queensland cane field to extend her visa

Britons under 35 will be able to work in Australia for three years without having to complete farm work under the new free trade agreement

Ms Ayliffe says the deal is a monumental signal from the British Prime Minister that the agricultural labor system is broken.

“Boris Johnson used it to do something so important for young people, I was delighted. I did not expect it to be abolished, ”she said.

“Activists can now go to government officials and tell them Boris Johnson will not agree to this for British citizens. You need to know that your youngsters are in danger and that is why Boris Johnson insisted that this be over.

Ms Ayliffe, who published “Far from Home: A true story of death, loss and a mother’s courage” – a book about the loss of her daughter and the exposure of the institutionalized abuse that occurs on Australian farms – described the work of “modern slavery”.

“To be honest, this book was my swan song, but after this announcement, I’m ready to start over. I want to enter the European Parliament, I want to go to Europe. I really want to go further, ”she said.

Ms Ayliffe has published “Far from Home: A true story of death, loss and a mother’s courage” – a book about the loss of Mia and exposing the institutionalized abuses that occur on Australian farms.

“It became my life because she was my only daughter. She was everything to me, I lost everything, ”said Ms Ayliffe

“I was a single mom with a daughter living on the bread line,” she said. You took my girl, my girl died there, so don’t come on me like a crybaby

Having been heavily involved in the farm labor industry since her daughter’s death, she says the problem is not going away.

“Most of the abuse I hear about comes from Canadian women. They absolutely draw the line on the abuse they experience in the workplace, ”Ms. Ayliffe said.

“I am currently in a Facebook group with young women who have been abused. They know a woman who is constantly drugged and forced to massage locals topless, ”Ms Ayliffe said.

“I spoke to people who walked into the room at the wrong time and saw loads of money and drugs.”

“It became my life because she was my only daughter. She was everything to me, I lost everything ‘

Despite attempts to contact Australian politicians and even create a registry of legitimate employers so backpackers can be aware of the safety and history of abuse that some farms may have had, Ms Ayliffe found a complete lack of support. .

Despite attempts to contact Australian politicians and even create a registry of legitimate employers so backpackers can be aware of the safety and history of abuse that some farms may have had, Ms Ayliffe found a complete lack of support. .

“One of your politicians said that farmers should not be forced to have their names in the public domain,” she said.

“These people should not be working with young people. “

Ms Ayliffe now fears that workers will be repatriated from other countries to replace the lack of UK workers.

The visa marked by the new free trade agreement will welcome workers from the 10 nations of Southeast Asia – Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Mia died on August 23, 2016 at the hands of Ayad, who is said to have an obsession with the young Briton.

Ayad saw lawsuits dropped against him after a court ruled he was insane.

Instead, he was sentenced to ten years in a mental institution despite reports from witnesses in the hostel that he called Mia his “wife” and spoke regularly of his sexual attraction to her.

The deal was debated by Scott Morrison and Boris Johnson over a three-hour dinner at Number 10 Downing Street on Tuesday night.

Welcoming the deal, Prime Minister Johnson said: “Today marks a new dawn in UK relations with Australia

The British (pictured in Manchester during the England-Croatia soccer match on Sunday) will be able to work in Australia for three years and Australians will have the same rights in the UK

Tariffs will be reduced or possibly removed on a number of key UK products sold in Australia, including cars, cheese, cookies and whiskey as part of the trade deal.

It has not yet been decided whether Britons who have already used a working holiday visa will be able to reapply and benefit from the extended working rights.

The changes will not come into effect until at least July 2022, when the free trade agreement – the principle of which has been agreed – is expected to be officially signed.

“I said we would wait for the right deal and I think we have the right deal Boris,” Morrison said of welcoming the deal this week which will boost Australia’s economy by $ 1.3 billion ($ 700 million sterling) and the UK saving $ 915 million (£ 500 million) each year.

Morrison said there would be no limit to the number of young people who could move between the two nations.