The Solomon Islands High Commissioner to Australia, His Excellency Mr. Robert Sisilo, CBE, has appealed to Solomon Islands citizens under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme who have absconded from their employment to return home.
H.E. Sisilo said these individuals are now unlawfully overstaying in Australia after disengaging from their approved employers, and are therefore in breach of their visa conditions.
H.E Sisilo told a local journalist who visited Australia recently.
“Workers who are facing issues should not abscond,” the High Commissioner said.
“They should consult their employers, or come and talk to us. Absconding and living illegally in Australia is not the answer,” he added.
He said overstaying without a valid visa is illegal and puts workers at serious risk.
“Once you are outside the legal framework, you are vulnerable to exploitation. Some employers may take advantage of disengaged workers knowing they are no longer protected under the scheme.”
H.E. Sisilo also clarified the limitations of his office’s role.
“Once a worker disengages without proper process, our office has no authority to assist them. The only safe and legal path forward is to return home, renew your visa, and reapply properly if you wish to come back.”
The High Commissioner issued a firm warning.
“Workers who deliberately breach their temporary visa conditions by absconding will not be re-engaged under the PALM scheme in future.”
Currently, more than 8,000 Solomon Islanders are participating in the PALM scheme across Australia, contributing to both the Australian workforce and the Solomon Islands economy through remittances.
Looking ahead, there are concerns that policies affecting Pacific Island workers could become even stricter depending on the political direction of Australia.
If Peter Dutton, leader of Australia’s Liberal Party, were to win a future federal election and become Prime Minister, the response to absconding workers could harden significantly. Dutton has previously advocated for reducing net overseas migration by 100,000, emphasizing tighter immigration controls.
Historically, the Australian government has taken action to address the issue of Pacific Island workers abandoning their designated employment. In 2021, a campaign was launched warning that those who absconded could face visa cancellations and may be barred from working in Australia again.
Meanwhile, growing concerns about the exploitation of Pacific workers have prompted calls to overhaul labour mobility schemes to better protect workers while addressing workforce shortages in Australia.
Given Dutton’s tough stance on immigration, a government under his leadership could introduce more rigorous conditions under the PALM scheme—such as tighter visa rules, increased surveillance of worker compliance, and tougher penalties for breaches. However, any policy changes would ultimately depend on the broader political and economic context at the time.