The Australian government's announcement last week that it is (carefully) restarting the Seasonal Worker Program and Pacific Labour Scheme is welcome for Pacific islanders looking for work and for Australian farms and businesses looking for labour. It marks the latest step forward in the steady progress of Australia's labour relationship with the Pacific. But why stop there? Could there be more for Australia and the region to gain from a more deeply integrated labour market?
This article was first published in the Griffith Asia Institute's Pacific Outlook series.