Pacific worker scheme at ‘low point’, as agriculture worker numbers fall

The NFF says Labor’s agriculture visa scheme for Pacific Islanders is at a ‘low point’ as new data reveals 20 workers in the program have died in a year.

First arrivals of Pacific workers to the seasonal workforce in the Yarra Ranges at Vernview Apple Orchard in Launching Place. Massi Gregoire from Vanuatu. Picture: Mark Stewart

The peak farmer’s body says Labor’s agriculture visa scheme for Pacific Islanders is at a “low point”, with the number of labourers in the sector falling by a quarter, as new data reveals 20 workers in the program have died in a year.

The National Farmers Federation has called on the Albanese government to overhaul the ­Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme and wind back “harmful changes” that have caused growers to “abandon” the program.

The number of short-term agriculture sector workers in the program has fallen by almost 28 per cent between June 2023 and November 2024, Department of Employment and Workplace Relations figures reveal, with the total number of farm workers decreasing by 25 per cent in the same period.

Though the number of fatalities in the scheme had fallen from 29 in 2022-23 to 20 in the last fin­ancial year, seven deaths have been recorded among PALM workers since the start of July. So far this financial year there have been four road fatalities, two deaths from medical causes and one drowning.

Under the PALM scheme, regional and rural businesses in agriculture, meat processing, aged care and hospitality can hire workers from nine Pacific Island countries and East Timor when there are workforce shortages.

Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt defended the scheme, which currently employs 31,305 workers, saying the program was “highly valued by Australian employers and industry”.

“The PALM scheme helps to fill labour gaps in rural and regional Australia, while helping workers to develop skills and send income home,” Senator Watt said. “Currently, more than 30,000 short-term and long-term workers from nine Pacific Islands and East Timor are employed across sectors including agriculture, meat processing, aged care and other critical industries.”

Senator Watt said the government took the welfare of workers “seriously” and continued to “work with PALM scheme employers to ensure safe workplaces and promote regional road safety, including through support and education for workers before and after they arrive in Australia”.

Road deaths were also the leading cause of fatalities among PALM workers in 2023-24, with eight visa-holders in the scheme dying in road accidents and seven from medical causes; four deaths remain under investigation and one is unspecified.

Only one of the fatalities between July 2020 and December can be attributed to a workplace incident, a government source said.

NFF president David Jochinke said farmers were particularly concerned about program rules requiring employers to pay workers for a minimum number of hours even when there had been a turndown in production.

Employers are required to offer a minimum of 120 hours over four weeks.

“Last year was a low point for the PALM scheme, with fewer PALM workers in agriculture in the short-term stream, as growers abandoned the scheme,” he said.

“With a review of the scheme under way, we are urging the federal government to wind back the harmful PALM changes that have made it harder for farmers to participate in the scheme and limited the benefits flowing back to the Pacific.”

Nationals leader David Littleproud has pushed for the introduction of a specific agriculture visa, arguing that the PALM scheme would not solve the worker shortage alone.

“It’s important any changes to the PALM scheme instil flexibility for workers and farmers, understanding the seasonal and geographical nature of agricultural work, but also respecting the inherent risk of farm work,” he said.

Former Immigration Department deputy secretary Abul Rizvi said agricultural worker visas were typically plagued by exploitation issues, adding that boosting the English language requirements would improve integrity in the PALM scheme.

“Given the number of PALM visa holders in Australia is about 30,000, it’s extraordinarily high,” Dr Rizvi said. “Twenty deaths in 30,000, and when we’re talking about predominantly young ­people … That’s staggering.

“If there were 20 deaths of working holidaymakers, out of about 200,000, we would (expect) representations from all sorts of countries complaining about what’s going on.”