12/05/2026
🇵🇬🇦🇺 Expanding Pacific labour mobility starts with the right conversations.
BLU MD Zeb Riddell was joined by Ken Dachi from Welcoming Australia in Brisbane to meet with PNG Treasurer Hon. Ian Ling-Stuckey CMG.MP, a powerful alignment of government, industry and community voices focused on creating real workforce opportunities for PNG workers in Australia.
Critically, the conversation tackled one of the scheme's most pressing challenges head-on: worker disengagement under PALM. BLU presented its proposed solution, and the reception was strong.
With 22 provinces ready to mobilise across construction, aged care and agriculture, BLU is proud to be driving this work alongside PNG's Labour Mobility Unit.
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BLU by Adcorp, CEO, Zeb Riddell and associate Ken Dachi brief PNG Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey, Principle Adviser Dr Misty Baloiloi and KDDA board member & community rep, Micheal Panda in Brisbane, QLD last Saturday, 09th May 2026.
22 PROVINCES IN PNG HAVE CAPACITY TO SUPPORT INITIATIVES TO SUPPLY WORKERS INTO THE AUSTRALIAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, IF NEEDED.
PNG's Labour Mobility Unit (LMU) has welcomed initiatives by major Australian based companies and Australian government endorsed recruitment agencies, to explore the possibility of including new sectors that might engage PNG workers.
Currently the main areas of engagement are horticulture, meat works, health and the education sectors. There is a keen interest for the endorsement of the Australian construction industry to be added to that list according to the Minister for Treasury, Ian Ling-Stuckey, who has oversight for the labor mobility program in PNG.
Minister Ling-Stuckey met with BLU by Adcorp AU and Agri Labour Australia last week.
As employment agencies, they see a big demand for workers in sectors such as Age Care, Meat works, Agriculture, Construction and the textile industries. These are great opportunities for PNG, the country with the biggest population in the paciific, to increase the supply of workers.
The agencies appealed to PNG Government to work with them, the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Employment and Work Place Relations to open up employment opportunities in other sectors, with consideration to include the metropolitan areas and find a workable pathway for PNG to respond to these demands.
As part of this planned expansion, there were also discussions about how best to deal with challenges such as alcohol abuse and some people absconding from the program and not keeping to employment agreements. The employer groups urged PNG to lead the way in working with other PALM participating countries in the Pacific to assist the Australian government in finding solutions.
To assist with moving this agenda forward, one of the agencies, BLUby Adcorp will be appointing its representative to be based in Port Moresby to assist PNGs LMU with recruitment and placements.
Hon. Ian Ling-Stuckey, CMG.MP
Minister for Treasury
12 May 2026