The Generosity of the Australian Government to Pacific Islands and Timor Leste
The Australia Federal Government through her Department of Home Affairs has generously invited Citizens of her neighboring countries, between the ages of 18 to 45 to try their luck on a migration kind of ballot.
“The Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV) pre-application ballot aims to give eligible people from Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste equal access to the PEV. The ballot provides a fair and transparent process by randomly selecting people to apply for the visa. It makes sure there is equal access for people of any skill level, occupation and gender.” Dept Home Affairs.
The Australian Government has generously allocated up to 3000 visa places per year, which includes partners and dependent children.
Majority of these Pacific young, age 18 – 45 are descendants of Pacific Islanders who shared the agony, sweat and blood in the trenches with brave Australia diggers/soldiers in both world wars, Malayan campaigns, Vietnams, East Timor, Middle East and other volatile spots on earth.
Australians’ goodwill has opened employment opportunities in Australia for Pacific Islanders under the PALM scheme. The latest update as at end of 2023 there were 39,644 PALM scheme workers in Australia and 423 current Approved Employers.
This new Visa sub class 192 offer has excited the majority of these PALM workers who may be eligible to try their luck on the draw, hoping should they be chosen to have their respective families join them in Australia.
Potential 100,000 plus applicants for the 3,000 spots?
Let’s do a bit of simplistic arithmetic, shall we?
The Pacific Island population of 2.3 million added to PNG’s 11.78 million equals 14.08 million.
Now, in Fiji’s case 48.5% are between the ages of 20 – 45 years old, within the eligible age to put their names in the draw. So, 48.5% of Fiji’s 939,535 population is 455,567. So, to borrow Fiji’s equation pacific wide without any other socio-economic mitigation will be 48.5% of 14.08 million is 6,790,800.
Say if only 2% of the 6,790,800 puts their names in the draw, that’s leave us with 135,816 potential applicants vying for 3,000 spot. No wonder there are late night prayer meetings in the PALM workers camp, declaring a verses in the Chistian Bible in the book of Proverbs 16:33 to favour them!
It seems that the only hope to be one of the 3,000 is by divine intervention of whatever deity each worship.
Recent visa embargos are that no PALM workers holder of Sub class 403 may apply for Student visa as in the previous years. However, the possibility for PALM worker spouses applying for Student visa may still be available and could be a real fallback plan should the luck of the draw fall far off the mark.
Our papers very best wishes to all who thew their $25 and name to the draw so you may further enjoy Australias hospitality.
Personal opinion with data sources: abc news, fijistatsfiji.gov.fj, world bank, homeaffairs.gov.au
