The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) and the Kingdom of Tonga have reaffirmed the importance of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.
The Acting High Commissioner of Tonga, His Excellency Mr Curtis Leonard Tu’ihalangingie, recently welcomed an NFF delegation to the Tongan High Commission.
NFF President David Jochinke said the PALM scheme was a vital contributor to both the Australian agriculture sector, and to the livelihoods of many Tongan families.
“It was an honour to meet His Excellency,” Mr Jochinke said.
“The PALM scheme plays a critical role in addressing workforce shortages in Australian agriculture and providing meaningful economic opportunities for Tongan workers.
“We had constructive discussions with His Excellency, especially around the sustainability of the scheme,” Mr Jochinke said.
His Excellency welcomed the opportunity to engage directly with the NFF and expressed Tonga’s strong support for continuing to strengthen the PALM scheme.
“It was an important and productive meeting with the NFF,” His Excellency Mr Tu’ihalangingie said.
“We are proud of the contributions Tongan workers are making in Australia and appreciate the support the Australian agriculture industry is providing them.
“Our shared focus must be on building a scheme that is sustainable, inclusive, and fit for all.”
The representatives discussed potential areas for deeper cooperation.
Both parties agreed it was vital to listen to both workers and employers when proposing changes to the scheme.
As of March 2025, there were 3,480 Tongan workers participating in the PALM scheme in Australia.
Stacey Davidson
Ashleigh Whittaker