Manila: Australian Ambassador Marc Innes-Brown emphasized the high demand for Filipino workers in Australia during his courtesy call with Senator Raffy Tulfo at the Senate. Tulfo, who leads the Senate committees on migrant workers and public services, shared that approximately 400,000 Filipinos reside or work in Australia, many of whom are employed as nurses, skilled workers, and other healthcare professionals.
According to Philippines News Agency, Innes-Brown, during his meeting with Tulfo on February 18, praised the performance of Filipino workers and acknowledged their significant contributions to the Australian economy. The ambassador noted that Australia continues to seek more skilled workers and shows a preference for hiring Filipinos. Tulfo expressed gratitude for the excellent treatment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Australia, highlighting that his office had not received reports of abuse or maltreatment by Australian employers.
The conversation also touched upon the increasing number of Filipinos pursuing master's and doctorate scholarship programs in Australian universities. Existing arrangements allow Filipino scholars to work while studying and to bring their families with them, a setup that Tulfo welcomed. He noted that Australia has initiatives to help Filipino scholars apply their specialized training upon returning to the Philippines, including agricultural courses aimed at benefiting local industries.
Regarding defense and maritime cooperation, Tulfo stated that the ambassador emphasized the Philippines as a priority partner for Australia in efforts to strengthen bilateral ties. Innes-Brown mentioned plans to expand military training exercises with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard. Tulfo also acknowledged Australia's donation of drones to the Philippine Coast Guard, which will enhance maritime patrols and territorial monitoring in the West Philippine Sea and support efforts to promote regional stability.
Tulfo highlighted the growth of Australian investments in the Philippines across sectors such as infrastructure, education, trade, renewable energy, and agriculture. These investments are projected to create approximately 45,000 jobs nationwide. He expressed his appreciation to Innes-Brown for the visit and reaffirmed his commitment to working with the Australian government to deepen the longstanding Philippines-Australia partnership.
