Minister in charge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MoIA), Johnny Koanapo, led a delegation to Australia last week to raise awareness on the upcoming national Referendum to seasonal workers in Stanthorpe and Mildura, recruited under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.
He also took the opportunity to spend time with the workers listening to their challenges and issues. Minister Koanapo and the delegation visited Sim Fresh factory and an accommodation for Ni-Vanuatu workers to understand their working conditions and discuss issues experienced living abroad.
Workers who participated in the awareness of the referendum expressed their appreciation to the Minister and delegation for visiting, informing, and encouraging them to vote in the planned national referendum.
The visiting delegation encouraged the workers to exercise their constitutional rights with conscience when voting on May 29, 2024. Workers were informed that polling stations would be stationed in Stanthorpe and Mildura to enable workers to exercise their rights. Other polling stations will also be established in other areas of Australia where they can exercise their rights. Workers were also encouraged to vote through proxy voting should they not be available to vote on 29th of May due to work commitments.
The minister and delegation heard also from a number of disengaged workers on their current issues and challenges and took the opportunity to encourage workers to come forward and discuss with Vanuatu Government options to enable their return to Vanuatu.
Minister Koanapo reiterated the Vanuatu Government’s position not to encourage Ni-Vanuatu to apply for a protection visa, a message that was also conveyed by Vanuatu’s Deputy Prime Minister during his recent visit to Australia.
He additionally informed the workers of his meetings with the Australian Government regarding the current challenges of the PALM visa and the need for both Governments to find solutions to transition the workers into suitable arrangements in order for workers to return to Vanuatu with some savings.
The PALM is an integral part of the Vanuatu and Australia relationship and both countries were able to hold open and frank discussions as a demonstration of commitment to address the issues currently experienced by workers under the program. The seasonal labour program contributes significantly to both economies of the two countries and Minister Koanapo has assured the Australian Government that Vanuatu has no intention to stop participating in the program. However, Vanuatu wants to collaborate and address issues currently experienced and explore new areas such as construction and trade skills, which can bring more workers into Australia.
The Internal Affairs minister also took the opportunity to meet with the Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense, Richard Marles; Mark Dreyfus, Attorney General; Andrew Giles, Minister responsible for Immigration, Citizenship, and Multicultural Affairs; and held other meetings with senior Heads of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) on labour mobility issues.
The minister and delegation had the opportunity to visit the Australian Federal Police Majura Park complex and the Royal Military College, also as part of his role as Minister responsible for the Vanuatu Police Force and Vanuatu Mobile Force.
The areas covered during this visit demonstrated the broad coverage of responsibilities for Minister Koanapo. The Australian Government Ministers expressed appreciation for Koanapo’s visit and offered to assist Vanuatu in its development priorities and address some of the current issues affecting the PALM program.
He also met with the key senior representatives from the Australia Industry Group (Ai Group), Jetstar, Market Place Fresh, Global Victoria and Toll Holdings as part of a commercial diplomacy initiative to build deeper commercial and investment ties with Australian companies operating at the strategic level of the economy. This commercial diplomacy initiative will complement the current labour mobility program, regional security, prosperity, and interconnectivity between the peoples of Vanuatu and Australia.
Australian businesses commended the Vanuatu minister for taking leadership in commercial diplomacy and expressed deep interest in the apprenticeship and construction proposal raised by Mr. Koanapo.
Australian businesses indicated that there is growing business interest in the Pacific market and welcome further discussions on any opportunities to increase trade and more presence of Australian businesses in the Pacific.
It is however important that stability, especially market stability in Vanuatu and the Pacific is achieved to enable businesses to maintain their strong interests. Increased business setup in the Pacific will contribute to improving Vanuatu’s human development and prosperity. The inclusion of key business leaders on all future visits will be positively considered as part of building stronger links among the businesses.
Koanapo was accompanied by the Director General of MoIA, 1st Political Adviser, the General Manager of the Vanuatu Chamber of Commerce and Industries (VCCI), and the Second Secretary of Vanuatu’s High Commission in Canberra.
The Australian High Commissioner to Vanuatu, Ms Heidi Bootle and DFAT staff also accompanied the visit and participated in the meetings between Minister Koanapo and the PALM workers. Overall, the referendum awareness was said to be well received and Minister Koanapo’s visit received overwhelming support from the Australian Government. It again reinforces the trusted, strong, and mature relationship between Vanuatu and Australia and establishes a new level of trust, maturity, and respect on equal terms for both countries.
Source: dailypost.vu
