NSW反奴役专员詹姆斯·科凯恩在国会调查中指责国家党领袖古梅什·辛格多年来对选区内的劳工剥削问题"一直有所了解"[1]。科凯恩的调查表明，科夫斯港和南邦布卡谷地区存在系统性的劳动力剥削现象，涉及大约四至六个与浆果农民相关的劳工派遣辛迪加[1]。科凯恩指控辛格在这两个地区拥有"无可比拟的影响力"[1]。
辛格对这些指控予以断然否认，称其为"政治声明"并要求专员道歉[1]。辛格强调，在其担任Oz Group主席和创始董事长的六年期间以及进入新南威尔士州议会的八年时间里，他都"不懈努力清除不良分子"[1]。他还表示，科凯恩从未直接向他提出过这些问题[1]。
NSW Anti-Slavery Commissioner James Cockayne has alleged that NSW Nationals leader Gurmesh Singh has been aware of labor trafficking and exploitation affecting migrant workers in his electorate for years without taking action [1]. During parliamentary proceedings, Cockayne stated that Singh had been "on notice for a long time" regarding systematic labor abuses in the Coffs Harbour and South Nambucca regions [1].
Singh has firmly rejected the accusations, dismissing them as a "political statement" and calling for the commissioner to apologize [1]. He contended that throughout his time in the industry and over the eight years since, he has "worked tirelessly to weed out bad actors" [1]. Singh also denied that Cockayne had ever raised these concerns directly with him [1].
Cockayne's investigation uncovered evidence of systemic labor exploitation in the region, identifying approximately four to six labor trafficking syndicates connected to berry farming operations [1]. The commissioner attributed particular responsibility to Singh, characterizing his influence in Coffs Harbour and South Nambucca as "unparalleled" [1]. Singh's background included serving as chairman and founding director of Oz Group for six years before entering NSW parliament [1].