A Fijian domestic worker illegally imported into suburban Brisbane and allegedly forced to work long hours loves Australia and doesn’t want to return to Fiji.

April 11, 2019

A Fijian woman allegedly forced to work around the clock by a Queensland couple, accused of trafficking her into the country, loves Australia and doesn’t want to go home.

The woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, says her passport was taken from her and she was forced to work as a domestic helper in suburban Brisbane for eight years before escaping in 2016.

Tongan couple Isikeli Feleatoua Pulini and Malavine Pulini are on trial for human trafficking and forced labour offences in relation to allegedly illegally bringing the woman to work in their home.

On Monday, they pleaded guilty in the Brisbane Magistrate’s Court to harbouring an unlawful non-citizen but deny they trafficked the woman and forced her to work.

The court has heard despite cooking the meals each day, the woman rarely ate with the family, who had allegedly “imported” her as a live-in worker from Fiji in 2008 because they felt a servant was missing from their lives.

She said she often laid awake in her bed at night due to the pain caused by untreated tooth decay and wasn’t always paid the promised $250 per week wage.

However, during her cross-examination, the woman told the court she had access to a mobile phone, the internet, Facebook, and would often email friends and her church congregation.

When asked by Mrs Pulini’s barrister, Ben Dighton, if she she loved Australia, the woman replied “yes I do love Australia”.

It was also revealed the woman has a brother and a brother-in-law who are police officers in her home country, and had travelled to spend nights alone on the Gold Coast at least once during her time with the couple.

AFP agents who investigated the woman’s allegations told the court on Wednesday, they hadn’t contacted her family or police in her home country.

Earlier, crown prosecutor Ben Power told the court the alleged victim had initially worked as a domestic servant for the pair in Tonga in the early 2000s, earning about $90 to $170 a fortnight.

But in 2006, the Pulinis secured work in Australia as a civil engineer and public servant respectively.

Mr Power said the couple allegedly arranged for the woman to travel to Australia twice on a tourist visa.

After the woman’s second arrival in 2008, the Pulinis allegedly took her passport.

The trial is expected to conclude on Thursday.