The inclusion of PNG workers in the Pacific Labour Scheme overdue and welcome

Some years ago I asked the then PNG Consul General in Brisbane, Paul Nerau, to check on how many PNG visa holders broke visa conditions in Australia.

The answer was a surprise - almost none! And most certainly less than visa holders from just about every country, including Pacific nations!

Papua New Guineans value the relationship with Australia. They generally respect our laws and rules.

Thousands have attended schools here over the years. They mix well with Australian students and their families. Some years ago I was introduced to the captains of a Charters Towers boarding school with a long history of taking PNG students.

The male captain was the grandson of a distinguished former Speaker of the PNG Parliament, Sevese Morea. I was told by the principal he was chosen as captain purely on merit.

Now to the seasonal workers scheme.

The recruitment of PNG participants will be a unique opportunity for both countries to benefit.

Workers from island nations like Fiji, Samoa and Tonga are well-suited to basic areas of need in Australia such as fruit picking and manual work in hotels etc.

But PNG really needs more workers in the agricultural sector. The future of PNG depends on a vibrant agricultural sector, which today is tragically run down.

We need to make the inclusion of PNG in the scheme a "win-win" opportunity.

That means recruiting workers to not just do manual work in the farm sector but also learn modern farming, and fisheries practices they can apply in their own communities when they return to PNG.

Those wanting to learn about modern farming should get priority when it comes to being included in the scheme. It must not be seen as just cheap labour, filling shortages in rural Australia.