Australia could learn from successful NZ seasonal workers scheme

[Stacey King]

Pacific Beat ABC Radio Australia Updated November 17, 2010 09:19:54

Two years after it was first introduced, New Zealand's seasonal worker scheme has exceeded expectations.

Not only have participating Pacific Islanders seen their household incomes increase by 30 percent, but growers have benefited too, with a steady flow of reliable and affordable labourers.

But just across the Tasman in Australia, a similar pilot scheme has failed to get off the ground.

While New Zealand brought 8-thousand workers over from Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu in 2009 - Australia has taken fewer than 100 since August 2008.

Presenter: Helene Hofman
Speaker: Stephen Howes, economics professor at the Australian National University

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