Dignity the question for ‘dirt poor’ islanders
25/8/08; Michael Mullins is the editor of Eureka Street;
The Federal Opposition opposes the Government’s Pacific Guest Worker scheme while it considers that a range of important questions remain unanswered. There are indeed many questions, but the opposition appears to be missing those relating to the rights of the Pacific workers themselves. The plan, which involves a three year trial, follows many requests from both Pacific nations and potential employers in Australia. Pacific leaders see such schemes as a key response to the urgent challenge posed by rising sea levels.