I have been concerned to hear reports of solar farms in the region overlooking Aussie workers in favour of backpackers.I will be asking the Department of Immigration to investigate these reports of solar farms, or their sub-contractors, deliberately choosing to give work to backpackers in the Bowen/Collinsville region, rather than taking on Australian workers.My office was contacted about the situation and after some investigation, I have been informed that busloads of backpackers are being collected and taken out to work on these farms.I have no objections to backpackers getting some work; they are a valuable source of seasonal labour for many farms and businesses in the region, but the deal should always be Aussie jobs for Aussie workers first, in renewables and any other industry.It appears that is not the case with these solar farms.There are plenty of people in Bowen who need jobs.And the advertisements are even listing the requirement of “the right to work in Australia”.I will be requesting an investigation of the situation by the Department of Immigration to assess the legality of what is going on.