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To: Minister Amanda Rishworth

Medicare for Seasonal Workers

I welcome the opportunity for people from the Pacific Islands and Timor Leste
to come and work in Australia on the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM)
scheme, to earn money for themselves, their families and their communities.

People on the PALM scheme must have private health insurance. The private
health insurance system is di­fficult to navigate. Too often, it has acted as a barrier
to people on the PALM scheme gaining access to necessary medical care.

I ask that people on the PALM scheme be given access to Medicare.

Why is this important?

People from the Pacific Islands and Timor Leste that come to work in Australia on the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme do not have access to Medicare. Instead they are required to pay for private health insurance arranged through their employer. Too often the complexity of using private health insurance or lack of support from their employer results in workers not getting the vital medical care they need.

How it will be delivered

The final signatures will be sent to Minister Rishworth.

Australia

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Updates

2025-12-02 10:01:59 +1100

10 signatures reached