Pacific labour mobility scheme

Australia to expand labour scheme to all Pacific countries

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and foreign minister Marise Payne say the current cap of 2-thousand places will be lifted, although the new limit is not a given.

Talks to allow Papua New Guinea to join the scheme have also been confirmed.

Australia will also establish a new Pacific office within its foreign ministry.

New Australia Pacific labour scheme has pastoral care facility

Australia announced that Pacific Islanders would be able to work for up to three years in certain sectors, such as health and agriculture, under its new Pacific Labour Scheme.

This follows the seasonal worker scheme that provided thousands of Pacific people with visas to work in horticulture and viticulture for about six months.

Matthew Dornan of the Australian National University's Development Policy Centre said to ensure the welfare of the workers, many of whom will work in rural areas, the new scheme will provide pastoral care.