There is a lot more information that we are working on in this matter – so watch this space.
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Why are some Biteriot employees paid $70 per day, and other Biteriot workers working 27.5 hours day, 192 hours per week? What is the right level of employee remuneration / incentive in a pandemic, what can other farmers learn from Nuffield Scholar, Fiona Hall and master motivator Claudio Brown?
Whine or wine?
Renowned winetaster, Fiona Hall of Biteriot recently complained about the local workforce in Orange, NSW saying:
the inability of overseas backpackers … had led to staff shortages … they employed university and high school students …
“We had somegood locals, but we [also] had some locals who did one day on, one day off [lacking] consistency,” ….
Mrs Hall said the government’s COVID-relief payments had not helped with the staff shortages.
“It wasn’t an incentive for people to go out and pick cherries,” she said.
The writer wonders, given chief fruit picker Fiona Hall is involved in the phoenixing of 4 Bonny Glen companies in liquidation with DW Advisory – does Fiona feel her companies have paid sufficient tax to warrant the Government providing some kind of fruit growers exemption from the Covid relief package?
Fiona wants to employ motivated staff like Claudio Brown???
The writer wonders why Fiona, an alleged Nuffield Scholar, doesn’t re-employ Claudio as a mentor to help “some locals” (as Fiona refers to them) lacking motivation…. Claudio works 27.5 hours per day.
Does Biteriot expect too much of locals?
Perhaps Mrs Hall, before criticising Orange locals, apart from employing Claudio Brown as a mentor, should she also perhaps consider a report from the employees perspective in today’s ABC (online)?
Nineteen-year-old Matthew Rolston bought a bus ticket … had the full backpacker experience — even staying in a hostel.
His first ever fruit-picking job was “actually rather enjoyable” at first.
“I kind of went through half a bottle of water, realised there was nowhere to fill it up and had to ration half a bottle of water for the rest of the day,” he said. …
Hostels cost more than wages earned
Things on the farm ended “rather sourly” for Mr Rolston when his wages for six 10-hour working days came through — three weeks after he first started.
Luka said he made $280 in six days picking fruit.(Supplied)
“And then, when we did end up getting paid, we didn’t get the full amount,” he said.
“I was supposed to earn around $550, I ended up getting $450.
“There was no way that we’d be making over a $1,000.”
His friend Luka Wighton, who also worked on the farm, said he had gone along hoping for “a bit of an adventure” — but ended up feeling “a little bit taken advantage of”.
“It was exhausting work … I mean, I’d be fine with it, if it was more pay, but we were kind of at a loss,” he said.
His $280 wage — paid on piece-rate agreement — meant he paid more for his accommodation at the hostel than he earned, as did Mr Rolston.
“I didn’t expect to make much money, but I thought I’d go back with a little bit of a profit,” Mr Wighton said.
Chloe said she gets paid hourly and that her rate was about $14.
Jodie* was hesitant to share her tale of rejection under her real name … At times she said felt employers “danced around” the wage topic, tried to make the job sound “as unappealing as possible” or made “unreasonable” requests.
She said she was starting to think some farmers might prefer migrant workers to Australians because they would be less likely to complain about small wages.
“I feel like they don’t have the same sort of legal requirements around wages,” she said.
“I know a lot of them live on site and [employers] charge them accommodation and all that sort of stuff.”
This is sharply different to the wage of under 18 year old local fruitpicker known as Claudio Brown – earning sometime $4800 per week (tax free) working 27.5 hours a day.
Similarly, Claudio Cianfrano has written a number of correspondences to media entities. Below is a link in Claudio’s own words about his personal situation:
Bruce, who partially succeeded Pamela Hall in accounts, was a trusted member of the Biteriot and Caernarvon team – handling accounts and dealing with grower payments and receipts and worked alongside fellow convicted fraudster Paula Neill, plus Fiona Hall & others.
Pamela oversaw bookkeeping and compliance in the Hall empire for an extended period and, it is believed, her and Fred continue to retain a multi-million dollar personal financial interest in multiple companies and properties who’d in the Hall Orange Group. It is understood that Pamela might have met Claudio Brown?
A WOMAN who embezzled more than $40,000 from the Bathurst Information and Neighbourhood Centre has been convicted of stealing property as a clerk sentenced to a nine month Intensive Correctional Order after appearing in Bathurst Local Court last week.
Paula, who succeeded Pamela Hall as paymistress, was a trusted member of the Biteriot and Caernarvon team – handling payrolls, accounts and dealing with grower payments and receipts and worked alongside Bruce Johnston, Fiona Hall & others.
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Claudio is definitely a phenomenon – in fact anyone that is able to work 192hours a week – i.e. 27 hours a day is an intriguing individual – made all the more remarkable by the fact that Claudio Brown, according to his employer Caernarvon Cherry Pty Ltd isn’t yet an adult (he’s under 18).
Don’t believe me – check out his payslip below or employment profile.
Who is Claudio Brown?
Despite being a permanent employee (according to Caernarvon Cherry Pty Ltd), little else is known about this phenomenon – Claudio Brown. For instance, Claudio Brown apparently doesn’t have an address, phone number, tax file number, superfund or bank account (all payments understood to be via cheques payable as “cash”). Claudio Brown typically works 80+ hours a week apparently (untaxed).
Claudio Brown – earning great money (untaxed) for a minor.
Would you like to tell us confidentially about your experiences – did you work with Claudio Brown?
For more information – chat with us live using our instant chat tools (bottom corners), book an appointment or call now on 1300-327123 (till late).
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