Objections to pacific seasonal work programs in rural Australia

Australia is debating whether Pacific Islanders should be granted temporary visas to undertake seasonal work in agriculture. The proposal has support from Australian farmers’ organisations, international development agencies and politicians on both sides of Parliament. Pacific Island governments are enthusiastic about the idea and have repeatedly raised it at regional meetings. However, Commonwealth government ministers have ruled out changes to current migration arrangements to allow the entry of unskilled workers on short term visas. The grounds given for opposing such schemes are numerous. This article identifies ten primary objections to a seasonal labour program for Pacific Islanders. It addresses each objection on its merits, in an attempt to disentangle legitimate questions of policy from unfounded perceptions and fears that often have deep historical roots.