Australia and New Zealand have worked hand in glove at the Pacific Islands Forum this week, but are walking different paths on Pacific migration.
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The 2022 leaders summit wrapped up on Thursday with a leaders retreat that declared a climate emergency.
Regional leaders including Anthony Albanese, Jacinda Ardern and Frank Bainimarama celebrated the end of the forum - and the launch of the 2050 Blue Pacific Strategy - by cutting an enormous cake with a sword.
The Australian and New Zealand prime ministers fly back to their home countries on Friday.
The prospects of Pacific migrants making the same journey are decidedly different.
Mr Albanese campaigned with a specific plan to "Build a Stronger Pacific Family", labelling the previous government's "Pacific Step-Up" policy as a Pacific stuff-up.
While in Fiji, he confirmed plans to implement Australia's first Pacific-specific migration plan, claiming support for the program among forum leaders.
"The idea that people should just be temporary migrants for a long period of time is something in my view not in the interests of individuals but also not of our nation," he said.
"I want people in Australia to have that sense of ownership. I want them to be citizens, to be able to participate in all forms of Australian life.
"We should, where possible, ensure the paths to permanent migration are available where appropriate. That's why we have that specific policy for Pacific Islanders."
When implemented, Labor's pledge will see a ballot run each year, with 3000 places for citizens from the Pacific and East Timor.
Mr Albanese has also pledged to make seasonal worker programs more attractive, allowing families to travel together, effectively loaning workers their airfare costs, and tackling mistreatment.
Across the Tasman, Ms Ardern's government has scotched a plan from last year to give what Export Growth Minister Phil Twyford called a "Pacific preference" in migration settings.
"Almost always and all too often, the rules that govern labour mobility ... have been written in the interests of wealthy countries, not developing countries," he said.
However, when the government's long-promised "immigration reset" arrived in May, the Pacific preference was unseen - which Ms Ardern attributed to COVID-19.
Ms Ardern said seasonal worker schemes, currently under review, were "originally designed to also address perhaps (local) unemployment" and may no longer be helpful.
"What has struck me is that the skill shortages that New Zealand has experienced, is being experienced in the Pacific region," she said.
"Here in Fiji they've seen a rapid increase in the number of tourists since the borders opened and they are concerned about the loss of skills from within Fiji to other tourist destinations such as Australia and New Zealand.
"(Samoa) Prime Minister Fiame (Naomi Mataafa) raised this issue herself.
"So this is where I think we have to be mindful that some schemes that we perceive to be as aid and development opportunities ... can also have an impact (locally)."
Australian Associated Press
