Fiji says the existential threat from climate change in many Pacific Island counties puts deeper integration with Australia on the agenda.
Australia is facing international pressure to introduce a promised visa lottery for Pacific workers as island nations deal with climate change’s “existential threat” and legislation to enact the change remains bogged down in parliament.to bring in 3000 Pacific nationals annually, with the US green card-style measure initially slated to begin in July amid a broader overhaul of Australia’s migration settings.
“These steps for deeper integration should not be delayed any more,” Prasad, an economist, told this masthead. “Given the existential threat from climate change in many Pacific Island counties, it is time to think of new ideas.” The two-step scheme will require those who succeed at the first stage to secure a job offer in Australia and meet tests to check their health, character and basic English skills before they can arrive. The applicants also have to be aged from 18 to 45.
Stephen Howes, director of the Development Policy Centre at Australian National University’s Crawford School of Public Policy, said the delay was unusual given foreign policy objectives traditionally had bipartisan support. Almost 1700 Pacific Island workers in Australia applied for protection in the 2022-23 financial year, up from about 1000 the year before.
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