Australian minister touts Pacific guest worker scheme
Updated
Australia's immigration minister, Chris Evans, says he wants to trial a guest worker scheme with migrants from the South Pacific.
The Rudd Government is planning an overhaul of the country's migration program and will consider a new unskilled migration program based on similar schemes in New Zealand.
Senator Evans says Australia's immigration policies need an overhaul if the country is to address the current labour shortage.
He says one way to address the problem could be the guest worker scheme, which would have a double benefit.
"One is the need for labour in a number of our industries, particularly in seasonal industries - fruit picking, etcetera," he said.
"But the other aspect of course is trying to stabilise the economies of the South Pacific."
