Government sets target of 30,000 workers for Australia Scheme by 2030

The second PNG-Australia Approved Employers Expo officially opened at APEC Haus on Monday, highlighting the rapid growth and big future plans for the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility [PALM] scheme.

This is only the second time this major event has been held since it was first launched in 2024. The week-long event, which runs from May 24 to 29, has brought together 27 Australian employers who arrived in Port Moresby, out of 29 that were expected. They are meeting with government ministers, local leaders, and international partners to find ways to expand the program safely and professionally.

In his keynote address, PNG Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey shared the incredible progress of the labor program. He explained that the initiative has grown very fast since the first group of employers met two years ago.

"In 2019, Papua New Guinea had only 55 workers in these Australian labor programs," Treasurer Ling-Stuckey said. "Through policy changes and better coordination by our Labor Mobility Unit [LMU], we turned that around. As of March 2026, I am proud to report that we have surpassed two thousand plus active, skilled Papua New Guinean workers currently employed in Australia."

The Treasurer pointed out that PNG has a massive advantage because of its young population, with about six million citizens under the age of 25.

To make the most of this young workforce, the Ling-Stuckey confirmed that the government has set a firm target of sending 30,000 PNG workers to Australia by 2030.

However, he warned that reaching this goal will require better organization at the local level. He challenged provincial administrators and district leaders to step up and create clean, fair, and transparent recruitment pools so that every region can benefit.

The Director of the PNG Labor Mobility Unit, Hakaua Harry, emphasized that the expo is not just about paperwork, but also about building cultural understanding. Ms. Harry explained that the expo gives Australian employers a real chance to see what PNG has to offer.

“The program will give employers the opportunity to see what we have," she said. "We are trying to help them appreciate what we offer as a country, not only in terms of our processes, but also our diversity and the challenges we face.”

To give employers a firsthand look at life in PNG, the delegation will travel outside Port Moresby later this week. They will visit East New Britain and East Sepik provinces to see how workers are recruited, trained, and prepared before they travel to Australia.

Australian High Commissioner to PNG, Ewen McDonald, spoke about the positive impact the program is having back home in local communities. According to McDonald, the benefits of the program do not end when a worker’s contract in Australia finishes.

"The data shows that 70% of returning PALM workers have used their savings and skills to start their own small-and-medium businesses right here in Papua New Guinea," he said. "These local businesses help support families by paying school fees and funding community projects in rural villages."

The High Commissioner also announced that the program is expanding into new, highly skilled areas. A pilot program in Darwin is already training PNG workers to work in aged care and nursing. To support this, fully funded training programs will launch in June 2026 to prepare future healthcare workers before they depart.

World Bank Country Director Han Fraeters also spoke at the event, emphasizing that the program works best when training is matched directly with the actual jobs available in Australia. This demand for PNG workers remains very strong. According to Stephen Burdette from the Approved Employers of Australia [AEA], Australian businesses highly value PNG workers.

Although bringing in international workers costs about 30% more due to travel and visa logistics, PALM workers make up for this cost with outstanding performance. Data shows that PALM workers have a 20% higher productivity rate compared to working holiday visa holders, making them a preferred choice for many Australian businesses.

Since joining the scheme in 2019, PNG has recorded over 5,300 total historical placements in Australia, contributing to a total of over 7,200 overseas jobs across both Australia and New Zealand.

Currently, PNG's PALM workforce is balanced between short-term seasonal work [48%] and long-term contracts [52%]. Most of these workers are employed in horticulture [56%] and meat processing [36%], with 4% in healthcare and aged care, and another 4% in other industries.

With the opening sessions completed, both governments are focused on building a larger, smoother system to help PNG reach its 30,000 worker target and strengthen economic ties between the two countries.