Two Samoan RSE workers die in Australia car incident

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, SAMOA – 26 June 2024 – The two young Samoan men who died in yesterday’s car incident in Victoria, Australia were recruited under the Falealili Seasonal Workers group.

This was confirmed by the Falealili No 1 Member of Parliament, who is also the Minister of Communications & Information Technology, Toelupe Poumulinuku Onesemo.

He said the deceased and 9 other people involved in the incident are from different villages in Samoa but were all recruited under the Falealili group.

Last Friday, Falealili celebrated 20 years since the establishment of the Poutasi Seasonal Workers Group which now covers the whole district of Falealili.

Toelupe said it is sad that such a tragedy happens a few days after celebrating the program’s success and achievements.

An official at the Ministry of Finance in Apia which the Labour Mobility scheme is under said the office is in contact with the Program Coordinator in Australia for an update before releasing information, especially to the families of the workers involved.

The incident reported by the Sky News said the minibus which the workers were in was involved in a collision then rolled over and hit a tree at Carwarp Victoria at around 7.00am yesterday.

One of the victims was airlifted to Melbourne Alfred Hospital while the driver who sustained serious injuries was transferred to the Mildura Base Public Hospital.

Sky News further reported that according to police, the “minibus crashed while attempting to overtake another vehicle on the Calder Highway between Kulkyne Way and Brownport Road.”