McCORMACK WELCOMES LABOR’S BACKFLIP ON PALM SCHEME WORK HOURS

Shadow Minister for International Development and the Pacific Michael McCormack has welcomed the Federal Government’s backflip on ill-advised changes to the Pacific Australian Labour Mobility Scheme after strongly advocating against the now-defunct minimum hours of work requirement.

“Despite warnings from the Coalition and industry bodies, last year Labor ploughed ahead with unworkable changes to the Pacific Australian Labour Mobility Scheme (PALM), jeopardising our agricultural industry and our foreign relations,” Mr McCormack said.

“The changes forced employers to guarantee 30 hours per week. Those whose day jobs actually involve growing the world’s freshest produce knew there was a deep-rooted lack of comprehension of seasonality and how weather can dictate the hours a PALM employer can provide.

“These flaws were raised in Senate Estimates, in Questions in Writing to the Minister for the Pacific and through strong media advocacy which has, thankfully, turned the tide. Industry advocates were also vehemently against the changes.

“The union puppet-masters pulled the same tricks you’d expect under a Labor Government and our complaints fell on deaf ears. Thankfully, now the Government has backflipped but only after seeing a decline of 10.2 per cent in short-term workers and 10.4 per cent for all PALM workers in agriculture.

“From July 1 growers will now be able to offer 120 hours of work averaged over four weeks to workers employed under the PALM, a sensible decision.

“I will continue to fight against red tape that makes things harder for our farmers and Pacific relations.”