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More than 35,000 workers in Australia under Pacific labour scheme, Albanese says

More than 35,000 workers are now in Australia under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (Palm) scheme, according to new figures released by the federal government.

The government says that when it came to office in May the total number of Palm workers in Australia was just over 24,400 – but by the end December this had risen to 35,100.

This means the government reached its budget commitment to reaching 35,000 workers by June 2023 six months ahead of schedule. The program, which includes participants from nine Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste, is demand-driven so the 35,000 figure is not a limit.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said:

My government is delivering on its commitment to reform and expand PALM and is already six months ahead of schedule. I was pleased to meet with PALM workers when I visited Fiji in July of last year, seeing firsthand the people who will make significant contributions to Australia’s workforce.

This scheme is a practical measure that shows our respect for the Pacific and will build a stronger Pacific family.

The government says the scheme helps fill workforce shortages across 28 industries, including agriculture, food processing, accommodation and hospitality and aged care – but also lifting families out of poverty across the region:

In a region where more than one third of people live on less than $1,000 per year, long term PALM workers send home an average of $15,000 each.

The minister for international development and the Pacific, Pat Conroy, said the scheme was highly valued by the leaders he had met across the region:

With the money they’re earning in Australia these workers are building new homes, putting children through school and kick-starting businesses in their home countries. It’s been heartening to see the impact on the ground – from Solomon Islands to Vanuatu.