The man at the centre of the storm, farm supervisor Sam Prassad, called the story bulls--t.

Yesterday the Indian nationals also claimed they were duped into posing for photos that were later portrayed as proof of their squalid living conditions in the national media.

They say they are free to live where they like.

The story has prompted an investigation by the Workplace Ombudsman.

But Dilip Rami was one of five workers happy to talk to The Border Mail yesterday.

He has spent the past three years working at the Rorato Nominees tomato farm — six months in the field, the rest of the year in the canning and packaging plant.

“It is good money and not hard work,” he said.

“We are not threatened to live in the homes, it is our choice.

“We pay $75 a week rent but that includes electricity, gas and water.

“There is no bond and no advance rent.”

Rorato Nominees has about 1000 acres of tomatoes under crop at Narrandera — the only place they could get enough water to grow almost 20 per cent of the national crop.

When picking begins next month the produce will be trucked to the Jerilderie plant.

About 20 workers are employed at Narrandera but that will rise to about 45 in peak production.

Mukesh Patel lives with his wife and another Hindu couple in a three-bedroom home in Jerilderie.

“No one tells us where to live or what we can say,” he said.

“Most of the work in the factory is done with machines — it is not heavy work or dangerous.”

Yesterday Mr Prassad denied the newspaper claims that he ruled by fear and demanded the workers live in his rental accommodation.

“They are free to stay wherever they like,” he said.

“But for most it is not practical, there is not enough accommodation here.”

But lawyer Dale Brooks said his firm, Taylor and Whitty Solicitors, had eight pending industrial and criminal legal cases relating to migrant abuse at the Rorato factory.

“These people are working there under dubious circumstances, someone has to take responsibility for what is happening,” he said.