Luke is joined by Michael McCormack MP, former deputy PM now Shadow Minister for International Development, who is concerned that new rules for employees from Pacific nations are unworkable.

Businesses have argued that changes to the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme – that will force employers to guarantee 30 hours per week for workers from nine Pacific nations working in Australia – will strangle seasonal businesses in red tape.  Others also say the new scheme will hamper Australia’s relationship with the Pacific as more employers choose backpackers and students over Pacific workers.

Mr McCormack says, “these changes were made without adequate consultation with stakeholders and now those stakeholders are considering walking away from the scheme, which would be detrimental, particularly to the agriculture and horticulture industries.”

Download this podcast here