About 70 people participating in a Federal Government-led seasonal workers program have been found living in a five-bedroom property in Latrobe, in northern Tasmania.

Latrobe Mayor Peter Freshney said various concerns about the property had been circulating for "many years", but issues around the number of people boarding became evident last year.

The council was able to access the "dormitory-style" property on Wednesday with an Emergency Order.

"Some of the issues relate to a malfunctioning wastewater treatment system that generated smells. There was concern with the number of people being accommodated at that site," Cr Freshney said.

"We were concerned about illegal building works and buildings being habited that were uninhabitable, to be frank.

"The biggest risk to these people was in the event if the fire broke out."

The ABC has approached the Tasmanian Fire Service for comment.

'Slum-like living conditions'

Mr Freshney said "concerned residents" had been raising issues, but getting "detailed and accurate information" from the owner of the property to check the claims had proven "very frustrating".

"We tried to work with the owner of the property to understand what was happening and what wasn't, but that's proven very difficult," he said.

Robert Flanagan from the Australian Workers Union said the residents would have been subject to "slum-like conditions".

"Given that there was effluent escaping from that residence, you can only imagine that these people have been subject to slum-like living conditions," he said.

"Each one of those 77 people has been paying $100 a week in rent and in addition to that, they've been paying $20 a day, six days a week, for transport to and from the worksite.

"The fundamental concern that we've got is this is a Federal Government-sanctioned program sourcing labour from island communities and those communities are being subject to exploitation and misery, and they are a vulnerable group of people."

Workers housed by labour supplier: Costa

The workers were employed on a berry farm run by fruit and vegetable grower Costa.

In a statement, Costa said the accommodation was arranged by a "third-party labour supplier".

"Costa has issued the supplier with a notice of breach of contract," the company said.

"It is clear that the supplier did not obtain proper planning approvals from the local Council and it is also evident the standard of accommodation being provided by the supplier … was not acceptable and does not meet Costa standards and community expectations."



The Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE), which is administering the program the workers are participating in, said it would investigate the claims.

"The department takes all allegations seriously," a DESE spokesperson said.

"Any breaches of the law are referred to the appropriate regulator or authority, including the Fair Work Ombudsman and police."

Editor's note (10/02/20): This story was originally published with a photo that was not associated with the farm in question.

