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Mayoral Alliance for the Pacific

The Mayoral Alliance for the Pacific, co-founded by Welcoming Australia and Leeton Shire Council, aims to equip local councils to engage more effectively in the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme and deliver better outcomes for communities, employers, and workers.  

In many ways the PALM scheme has been a lifeline for rural economies, addressing critical workforce shortages in agriculture, horticulture, and meat processing industries. The scheme helps close workforce gaps, making PALM workers vital to local economic sustainability and growth. As of June 2024, Australia hosts 34,230 PALM scheme workers stationed at 479 employers. 

Objectives

Changes need to be made to ensure that the scheme becomes a win for workers, communities and employers. Strengthening worker protections will lead to a more engaged, motivated workforce, which in turn enhances productivity, boosts local economies, and fosters stronger community ties. 

The Alliance discusses, develops and promotes a cohesive local government voice based on the PALM Scheme’s benefits and challenges to ensure better economic, social, and cultural outcomes for all community members. 

The Mayoral Alliance for the Pacific is committed to long-term solutions that improve the PALM scheme for all involved. Through our engagement across Local, State and Federal Governments and collaboration with employers, workers and the broader community, we aim to advance reforms that ensure the scheme delivers both economic benefits and safeguards workers’ rights. A Roundtable, hosted at Australian Parliament House on 20 November, between the Mayoral Alliance for the Pacific, key community stakeholders, and Members of Parliament will advance these conversations and actions.

Position Paper

The Mayoral Alliance proposes practical actions under 6 key categories:

  1. Inter-governmental liaison

  2. Prepared Employers

  3. Proactive Visa Conditions

  4. Coordinated Community Engagement

  5. Quality Accommodation Assurance

  6. Prepared and Supported Workers

Position Paper - November 2024

Media Spotlight

Sparked, in part, by a landmark report from the Office of the NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner, the ABC and SBS have higlighted the human cost of a scheme with good intentions but requiring continued reform.

The recently released report highlights systemic issues that impacts not only the dignity and well-being of workers but also the communities and businesses that rely on them. The report details a number of recommendations that includes:

  • Initiating an investigation of modern slavery risks faced by PALM and other temporary migrant workers
  • Ensuring relevant State Government agencies undertake suitable training in recognising and mitigating modern slavery
  • A Federal Government review of the visa settings and protection requirements for temporary migrant workers
  • Funding and support for local stakeholders to enable a more active role in monitoring of conditions and support

These recommendations are vital in ensuring the PALM scheme provides a fair, sustainable solution for all stakeholders involved—workers, employers, and local communities. 

How can you help?

Recent media attention has prompted an outpouring of support for the people who come to Australia to literally put food on our table. There are various ways you can get involved.

  • Add your name here to call for urgent and ongoing reforms to support temporary migrant workers
  • Donate here to provide immediate funding relief to temporary migrant workers in regional NSW
  • Urge your local council to join the Mayoral Alliance for the Pacific
  • Encourage your employer to join Welcoming Workplaces to develop a culture and practice of welcome, inclusion and belonging within their organisation and the community

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Call for Action

The recently released report from the Office of the NSW Anti-slavery Commissioner — Be Our Guests: Addressing urgent modern slavery risks for temporary migrant workers in rural and regional New South Wales —  shines a spotlight on systemic failures resulting in the exploitation of temporary migrant workers, including those in the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme. These findings highlight a significant issue that impacts not only the dignity and well-being of workers but also the communities and businesses that rely on them.

No matter who we are, how we arrived, how long we’ve been here – every individual deserves the opportunity to belong, contribute and thrive in the community we call home.

We call on State and Federal Governments to intervene to address this crisis that is occurring across regional Australia by ensuring that the safety and security of temporary migrant workers is upheld. 

Add your name to this collective call for urgent and ongoing reforms to provide better outcomes for workers, communities and employers, including national implementation of the recommendations from the Be Our Guests report.

Add your name here

Resources

Want to know more? Check out the following resources:

Members

Note: Victorian local council members have been temporarily removed pending the outcomes of local government elections,

    • Mount Isa Regional Council, Mayor Peta MacRae
    • Mareeba Shire Council, Mayor Angela Toppin
    • Southern Downs Regional Council, Mayor Melissa Hamilton
    • Hinchinbrook Shire Council, Mayor Ramon Jayo
    • Rockhampton Regional Council, Mayor Tony Williams
    • Lockyer Valley Regional Council, Mayor Tanya Milligan
    • Western Downs Regional Council, Mayor Andrew Smith
    • Banana Shire Council, Mayor Neville Ferrier
    • South Burnett Regional Council, Mayor Kathy Duff
    • Cassowary Coast Regional Council, Mayor Teresa Millwood
    • Leeton Shire Council, Mayor George Weston
    • Wagga Wagga City Council, Mayor Dallas Tout
    • Greater Hume Council, Mayor Tony Quinn
    • Griffith City Council, Mayor Doug Curran
    • Berrigan Shire Council, Mayor Julia Cornwell McKean
    • Sunshine Coast Regional Council, Mayor Rosanna Natoli