Australian parliamentary report calls for more incentives for the Pacific Islands

An Australian parliamentary report on the South Pacific has called for incentives for business investment in the islands and a scheme for Pacific workers to do seasonal jobs in Australia.

Radio Australia reporter, Graeme Dobell, says an inquiry conducted by parliament's Joint Foreign Affairs Committee has examined Australia's aid program for the South Pacific, which is worth around $US750 million this financial year.

The parliamentarians and senators report evidence show that people-to-people contacts with the South Pacific are falling, and calls for concessions to encourage Australian companies to invest in the Islands.

The recommendation is that an Australian business could get a full tax deduction for funds invested in the South Pacific.

The parliamentary inquiry also calls for an active and serious evaluation of a scheme for islanders to do Australian seasonal work such as fruit picking.

Source: Fiji Times