Australia will pursue “every single dollar” owed to Pacific workers after the collapse of a company engaged under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme that has reportedly left roughly $12 million in debts, including millions in unpaid superannuation, Minister for Pacific Island Affairs Pat Conroy said in Suva. Conroy urged Australian authorities to investigate the company’s conduct and to provide direct support to impacted workers as the case is examined.
“I’m very aware of that particular company and I’m urging the authorities to throw the book at them and to pursue every single dollar of unpaid wages and superannuation,” Conroy told reporters, signalling Canberra will seek recovery of entitlements for PALM workers. He said the government will continue to investigate the company for any wrongdoing and breaches and will work with affected workers as inquiries progress.
The collapse has reignited concerns about protections for Pacific nationals who travel to Australia for temporary work under the PALM Scheme — which places workers predominantly in agriculture and regional industries. Conroy stressed that Pacific workers are entitled to the same legal protections as Australian workers. “A fundamental principle of this government is that we will treat Pacific workers exactly the same as an Australian worker,” he said, reiterating Canberra’s public commitment to labour standards across the scheme.
Conroy pointed to recent federal reforms aimed at improving security for workers’ retirement savings, noting changes to how superannuation is paid. “We’ve recently made changes to the way superannuation is paid that will give greater certainty and security to all workers in Australia, including Pacific workers,” he said, without detailing the mechanics of the reforms in Suva. The measures are intended to reduce the risk of unpaid entitlements in cases of employer insolvency or misconduct.
While the exact number of individual workers affected by this company’s collapse has not been released, the government’s vow to pursue unpaid wages and superannuation underscores mounting political pressure to ensure PALM participants do not face exploitation when working abroad. Conroy said authorities will both pursue legal remedies against the collapsed employer and provide assistance to workers impacted by the company's failure to meet its obligations.
Conroy also used the occasion to express appreciation for Pacific labour’s contribution to the Australian economy, singling out Fijian workers and their families. “I want to finish where I began, by thanking Fijians and their families for working in Australia, for helping grow our economy while getting skills and income to help grow the Fijian economy,” he said, framing enforcement action as part of a broader partnership to protect workers and preserve the integrity of the PALM Scheme.
The announcement in Suva represents the latest development in growing scrutiny of employer practices within seasonal and temporary labour programs. As investigations proceed, Canberra’s emphasis will be on recouping entitlements for workers and tightening safeguards that aim to prevent future instances of unpaid wages and superannuation under the PALM Scheme.