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Tuesday, 8 May 2012
Page: 2787

Seasonal Worker Program

(Question No. 1535)

Senator Cash asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 6 February 2012:

With reference to the Seasonal Worker Program announced by the Government on 18 December 2011:

(1)   How will the $21.7 million allocated to the program be spent, and where will this funding come from.

(2)   How does the Seasonal Worker Program differ from the Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme.

(3)   Which countries are included in the:

(a)   Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme; and

(b)   Seasonal Worker Program.

(4)   Can copies of all signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) relating to the Seasonal Worker Program be provided.

(5)   In regard to Nauru and Tuvalu, detailed separately:

   (a)   what is the current state of discussions in relation to an MOU;

   (b)   when did discussions commence; and

   (c)   when is the MOU expected to be signed.

(6)   Was an evaluation report completed for the Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme; if so, can a copy be provided; if not, why not.

(7)   Can details be provided of the 'small scale, three year trial arrangements with cotton and cane growers, aquaculture ventures and accommodation providers in the tourism industry', including how these industries were selected to be part of the trial.

(8)   What selection criteria are employers required to satisfy in order to be an 'approved employer'.

(9)   How many applications by companies seeking to be an 'approved employer' have been: (a) received; (b) approved; and (c) denied, including the reason(s) for denial.

Senator Ludwig: The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1)   The funding allocated to the Seasonal Worker Program will be spent on administering the program, technical and capacity building assistance for countries participating in the Seasonal Worker Program, and financial literacy training and other training to support seasonal workers' effective participation in the Program. Funding of $21.7 million has been allocated, which is offset from relevant departments and agencies as well as from Official Development Assistance funds.

(2)   The Seasonal Worker Program differs from the Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme in the following ways:

The Program will be an ongoing program for horticulture businesses—it will not be a trial.

It will trial seasonal labour mobility arrangements with accommodation, aquaculture, cane and cotton businesses in selected regions.

Its governance arrangements will be streamlined.

The process for selecting employers to participate in the Program will also differ. Employers must enter into a special program agreement with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and then apply to become a special program sponsor.

(3)   (a) East Timor, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu have been invited to participate in the Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme. (b)East Timor, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu have been invited to participate in the Seasonal Worker Program.

(4)   MOU for the Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme between the Australian Government and the governments of East Timor, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu have been signed. The text of these MOU is available at:

http://www.deewr.gov.au/Employment/Programs/PSWPS/Pages/Contacts.aspx

(5)   Discussions with the governments of Nauru and Tuvalu commenced following the

Prime Minister's announcement of the expansion of the Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme in September 2011. The Australian Government and the government of Tuvalu signed an MOU for the Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme in early March 2012. As of 16 March 2012, discussions with the government of Nauru for the Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme are continuing.

(6)   An evaluation report on the development impacts of the Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme has been completed. The report is available at: http://ideas.repec.org/p/wai/econwp/11-09.html. An evaluation report on the domestic impacts of the Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme is nearing completion.

(7)   The trial with accommodation, aquaculture, cane and cotton growers will be implemented in selected regions, determined in consultation with key stakeholders. The industries were selected for the trial element of the Seasonal Worker Program given a range of factors, including seasonality, labour force information, expressions of interest from industry, and linkages with economic activity in participating countries.

(8)   The selection criteria can be found in the Request for Expression of Interest Form at: http://www.deewr.gov.au/Employment/Programs/PSWPS/Pages/ApprovedEmployers.aspx.

(9)   As of Friday 16 March 2012, the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations has received applications from 61 separate entities seeking to become an Approved Employer. Of these applications:

Two applications have been withdrawn by the entity seeking to become an Approved Employer.

15 applications did not meet one or more selection criteria and these entities were not invited to become an Approved Employer under the Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme.

20 applications are under assessment.

24 entities have been invited to become an Approved Employer under the Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme.