Seasonal workers under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme are still being crammed into overcrowded rooms while forking out hundreds in rent, a leading advocate has claimed.
Australian South Sea Islanders Port Jackson president Emelda Davis raised the alarm after visiting worker accommodations across regional Queensland, where she witnessed the conditions firsthand.
“In some places, workers are paying $160 per bed each week to sleep in crowded rooms with up to six bunk beds,” she said.
Ms Davis slammed the situation as “outrageous” and said the charges were unfair and exploitative.
“That’s $800 a week in total for one room, in towns where the cost of living is supposed to be lower.”
During visits to Cairns, Tully, Mareeba, Townsville, and the Burdekin, she spoke with workers from Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and Fiji who reported facing the same issues.
“Even in Sydney, tourists in backpacker hostels don’t pay that kind of money. So why are our workers being charged so much for substandard living conditions.”
She said the issue was widespread.
“They spoke about poor housing, high rents, and being charged extra for transport and other basic needs.”
According to Ms Davis, not enough has changed in 2025.
“The financial pressure placed on our people is unacceptable. This is exploitation, plain and simple.”
She is calling for urgent reforms to raise accommodation standards and ensure better protections for workers in the PALM scheme.
Minister for Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations Agni Dep Singh says the ministry will issue a response over the next few days.
