DFAT Officials from Canberra on Friday (12/08/22) paid a courtesy call to the Ministry of Employment Productivity and Industrial Relations as part of the preliminary consultations on the proposed Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV) Scheme that the Australian Government recently announced.
The Permanent Secretary for Employment Productivity and Industrial Relations, Osea Cawaru welcomed the team and also acknowledged the continued support from the Australian Government.
The DFAT contingent led by Mr Nic Johnson, Director Pacific Integration Services under the Office of the Pacific highlighted the purpose and objectives of the PEV where Australia greatly values its close historical, political, economic, development, security, and people-to-people ties with the Pacific Islands including Timor-Leste.
In this respect, the Australian Government has announced the introduction of a new Pacific Engagement visa (PEV), recognising the role that Pacific Islanders have played in shaping Australian culture and society. The PEV program is expected to commence on 1 July 2023.
The PEV will enhance the links between Australia and the Pacific by providing increased opportunities for permanent migration, employment, education, and training.
It is envisaged that the program will benefit participating countries through increased remittances, opportunities for skills and knowledge transfer, the provision of a new migration pathway, and enhanced people-to-people links.
Discussions revealed that the PEV will be broadly modelled on New Zealand’s Pacific Access Category (PAC) Resident visa which has been available since 2002. It will likely be a ballot-style application process, providing fair and equitable access to residency in Australia.
Up to 3,000 visas will be allocated annually for Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste. The ballot will be open to all skill levels, including unskilled.
The Pacific Engagement Visa is not linked to the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) program, however, PALM program participants will be eligible to enter the ballot for the Pacific Engagement Visa.
As part of the consultation process, the Ministry of Employment is expected to make a formal submission within the next few weeks as committed by the Employment Permanent Secretary, Mr Cawaru.