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?
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 some good 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.
https://www.westernmagazine.com.au/story/7077807/challenging-cherry-season-ends-after-export-staff-and-rain-issues/?cs=1549
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?
The writer also wonders what has changed?
At one stage, Biteriot had no trouble getting unemployed local teenagers to work picking fruit. A case in point is the worker known as Claudio Brown.
Once upon a time Biteriot employed Claudio who, whilst still a minor, worked a total of 27.5hrs a day.
The writer observes that Claudio Brown paid no tax (perhaps the kind of incentive Fiona has in mind?)
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.
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)?
Extracted from a story on ABC – source: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-14/when-backpackers-went-home-these-australians-tried-farm-work/13047062
The ABC article discusses potential motivational topics for Claudio Brown to coach SOME locals on:
ABC reported:
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.”
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-14/when-backpackers-went-home-these-australians-tried-farm-work/13047062
The writer observes Fiona Hall’s worker told SBS he was paid about $70 per day!
Not bad!
Source: https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/video/1745497667922/dateline-pandemic-farming-apples-and-oranges?action=play …. see video @15m, 10seconds
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.
Despite the writer having an MBA, the writer would need to draw upon the expertise of Nuffield Scholar Fiona Hall to know which is the appropriate level of pay and incentive and what government incentives (or dis-incentives) should apply?
The writer is unsure whether the below staff are working 27.5 hours per day or on a more conventional $70 per day pay rate? The writer notes however the following independent review on Biteriot via google:
Source: https://bit.ly/3sveACg
Would you like to tell us confidentially about your experiences? Are you interested to join the Caernarvon / Biteriot Employee Wage Theft class action?
Do you know if this is the voice of Claudio Brown?
Do you have information on government incentives Biteriot should get to subsidise its workforce?
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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Meet Claudio Cianfrano, long-time member of the Biteriot & Caernarvon Cherry team. It is believed Claudio is also know as Claude Steven Cianfrano.
Claudio has been spraying the orchards since at least 2014 and previously worked for Bernard & Fiona Hall (although not officially on the Caernarvon Cherry payroll under his own name) at Caernarvon Cherry & Biteriot. Claudio is well in excess of 18 years old – the alleged age of Claudio Brown. Who is Claudio Brown?
Of recent times, since mid 2016, Claudio Cianfrano has had a working relationship with Guohao Chen of Topfruit China Australia. It is unknown whether Guohao Chen of Topfruit China Australia has any knowledge of who is Claudio Brown but it is believed Claudio Brown was the predecessor in the same job currently fulfilled by Claudio Cianfrano?
It is believed Claudio is also Claude Steven Cianfrano:
Click here to view ABN records.
Click here to view Dunn & Bradstreet records.
According to ABN records, Claudio or Claude trades as: PIETRO’S FRUIT AND VEG
Claudio, his brother Robert Cianfrano and others are allegedly in a partnership according to ABN records:
Click here to view ABN records of the partnership between Claudio and Robert Cianfrano (and others).
Audio of some of the rant (goes for 7 mins) can be heard here:
This photography was recorded by dashcam on a public road in plain view of Claudio Cianfrano and Dave Evans.
Despite Dave Evans being a witness to Claudio’s rant – all caught on dashcam, over 7 mins long – Dave Evans told Constable Davis of Orange Police that Claudio Cianfrano wasn’t “trying to intimidate” (or words to that effect).
Youtube video (just part of the 7 minute rant) ….
More happy snaps of Claudio and the team at Biteriot, Caernarvon Cherry & Topfruit China Australia.
Robert Cianfrano, brother of Claudio, was involved in a number of litigations concerning Sydney Markets and its privatisation, Freedom of Information Application/s and otherwise. Related reports can be viewed here:
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:
Would you like to tell us confidentially about your experiences? Do you know Claudio Brown? Do you know Claudio Cianfrano? Do you know if Claudio Brown knows Claudio Cianfrano? Do you know if Robert Cianfrano knows 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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Meet valued team member of Biteriot & Caernarvon Cherry – Bruce Johnston.
Bruce was once described this way:
The father-of-two confessed to the crime, and was arrested and charged on 25 July 2014.
https://nswcourts.com.au/articles/gambling-addiction-does-not-lead-to-a-reduced-sentence/
To read more about Bruce’s career – please follow this link: click here.
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.
It is unknown if Bruce met and knows the identity of the mysterious Claudio Brown?
Would you like to tell us confidentially about your experiences?
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).
To contact us with any confidential tip-offs, files or information – please use the instant chat tools or form below:
Meet the team at Bonny Glen (in liquidation), Caernarvon Cherry & Biteriot, Hall family matriarch – Pamela Hall, wife of Fred Hall, mother of Bernard Hall.
Pamela Hall, wife of Fred Hall, formerly of the Bonny Glen orchard, Orange now reside at the Astill Court facility, UPA, 68 Nile Street, Orange.
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?
Pamela Hall and Fred Hall continue to be partners and financial backers of Bonny Glen (in liquidation), Caernarvon Cherry & Biteriot.
Would you like to tell us confidentially about your experiences?
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).
To contact us with any confidential tip-offs, files or information – please use the instant chat tools or form below:
Meet valued team member of Biteriot & Caernarvon Cherry – Paula Neill.
Paula was once described this way:
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.
To read more about Paula’s career – please follow this link: click here.
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.
It is understood that Paula may have met and know the identity of the mysterious Claudio Brown and written his weekly cheques (Claudio doesn’t have a bank account – see profile)?
Paula’s career at Bathurst Information and Neighbourhood Centre was cut short in mirky circumstances as discussed in the above article – click here. Bathurst Information and Neighbourhood Centre describes itself as follows:
The Neighbourhood Centre is a not for profit charitable organisation that supports the Bathurst community and beyond.
Since 1976, we enable people to come together to strengthen, participate, develop and celebrate our community.
Through our staff and strong and valuable volunteer base we provide programs, activities, and support groups, and access to information, facilities and meeting spaces through Bathurst and Oberon Neighbourhood Centres.
Would you like to tell us confidentially about your experiences?
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).
To contact us with any confidential tip-offs, files or information – please use the instant chat tools or form below:
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.
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).
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).
To contact us with any confidential tip-offs, files or information – please use the instant chat tools or form below:
