Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Senators would be familiar with the government's Pacific step-up, which began in 2016, which puts the region front and centre—because the Pacific is where we live, after all. And as part of these plans we will now also establish an Office of the Pacific to enhance whole-of-government coordination as we deliver on our commitments to strengthen that engagement across the region. The office will bring together officials not just from DFAT, where it will be located, but also from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Department of Defence, the Department of Home Affairs and the Attorney-General's Department to work together to implement these new initiatives.

I was also very pleased to announce that we'll expand the Pacific Labour Scheme to all Pacific nations and uncap the number of places offered each year. Uncapping the scheme builds on the powerful success of the uncapped Seasonal Worker Program, which has enabled more than 28,000 job opportunities for Pacific workers in Australia since 2012. They help build the skills and experience of Pacific workers and they provide an important source of income and help regional communities find the workers they need. (Time expired)