Component 1

This component would bring the Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) under the Temporary Work (International Relations) (subclass 403) visa in line with Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) (subclass 482) visas in terms of treatment of secondary applicants.

PLS secondary applicants would be subject to the following conditions (in line with those for TSS secondary applicants):

• Primary visa holders would be allowed to bring their domestic partners and dependent children to Australia as secondary visa holders.
• Employer sponsors must agree.
• Secondary applicants must meet health and character requirements and have health insurance.
• Secondary visa holders would be entitled to live, work and study in Australia (but would not receive government assistance for studying).

The following visa applications charges (VAC) would apply to PLS secondary applicants:

• Secondary applicants aged 18 and over would be subject to the same VAC as PLS primary visa holders.
• Secondary applicants aged below 18 would be subject to 25% of the VAC for PLS primary visa holders.

The taxation arrangements for secondary PLS visa holders would be same as primary visa holders.

This component would not apply to visa holders in the Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP).

This component would commence 1 January 2023.

Component 2

This component would extend the duration of SWP visas from nine to 11 months to improve flexibility. T

his component would commence 1 January 2023.

Component 3

This component would relocate the Agriculture Visa to sit as a third visa stream under the PALM.

This component would commence 1 January 2023.

Component 4

This component would create a new Pacific Engagement Visa for nationals of Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste. Up to 3,000 visas would be allocated annually by a ballot or lottery process modelled on the New Zealand Pacific Access Resident Category visa.

Places would be allocated from within the overall permanent migration program. Detailed design of the scheme will be undertaken in Government based on the following features of the NZ model:

• Applicants to be aged between 18 and 45 years.
• Applicants can include their partners and dependent children up to 24 years of age.
• Applicants or their partners must have a job offer in Australia.
• English language, character and health tests to be met.
• Applicants selected by ballot have eight months to obtain a full-time job offer.
• Country-specific quotas within an overall quota of up to 3,000 places a year.

Applications will be open to Pacific nationals in their home countries or who are in Australia on a valid temporary visa.

This component would commence 1 July 2023.