Pacific Australia Labour Mobility workers showcase vibrant culture at festival in North West Tasmania

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Two and a half thousand people work in Tasmania as part of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme, helping fill workforce gaps in areas like agriculture and horticulture. Last night, they brought something else to the state – their vibrant culture – at a special festival in North West Tasmania.

Transcript

00:00Celebrating culture and connection.

00:07The Pacific Rhythm Festival in Olverston deliver the line-up of traditional and contemporary

00:14music and dance from workers living in Australia under the Pacific Australia Labor Mobility

00:20Scheme, known as PALM.

00:23We are proud to be Solomon Islanders and we show this as one of our unique cultural dance

00:32and even the people will see that they will feel special.

00:39The dancing was very nice and people were enjoying clapping and smiling and shouting.

00:45They are happy to watch our dancing.

00:53Our traditional dance, it's a cultural thing.

00:56It was run before from our ancestors and up until now to this generation.

01:05Proving a hit with the crowd.

01:08People performing up there, they're fantastic.

01:10So much life and the colour and it's just the enjoyment.

01:14And the fact that they are here, they're part of our community so it's absolutely fabulous

01:19that they're sharing.

01:20Sharing the joy.

01:22The PALM Scheme helps fill labour shortages in rural and regional Australia in sectors

01:27like agriculture and meat processing.

01:30With workers from the Pacific and Timor-Leste able to obtain visas of up to four years linked

01:35to their employer.

01:37In November there were more than 31,000 workers across the nation and almost 500 employers.

01:47The Mayor is already looking forward to putting on the next event.

01:51They wanted a chance to share their culture and their song and their dance and we're so

01:55grateful that they've been generous enough to do that.

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