DILI, 28 january 2026 (TATOLI) – During his two-day visit to Timor-Leste, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Timorese counterpart, Xanana Gusmão, strengthened bilateral ties through the establishment of a “New Partnership for a New Era.”
According to the new partnership, signed on wednesday, january 28, 2026, at the Government Palace in Dili, both governments agreed to increase the number of Timorese workers in Australia to 10,000 by 2027–28.
Through this partnership, Timor-Leste and Australia will work together towards enabling 10,000 Timorese workers to take up employment opportunities in Australia by 2027-28, including through the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.
“There are now more than 5,000 Timorese working in Australia, and we want to increase that number to 10,000, which is in the interests of both our nations,” said Prime Minister Albanese during the joint conference at the Government Palace in Dili today.
Both governments expressed their strong commitment to ensure Australia’s labour mobility programs are mutually beneficial and deliver positive economic and social outcomes for workers, their families, and businesses in both countries.
According to the joint declaration, Timor-Leste and Australia will ensure their development cooperation promotes Timor-Leste’s prosperity and resilience.
“Through locally-led development, we will support quality services; inclusive and sustainable economic growth; and efforts to ensure all Timorese people can equally thrive and prosper,” read the declaration.
Labour mobility is one of the key areas of cooperation alongside other important initiatives in the newly established “New Partnership for a New Era” between Timor-Leste and Australia.
TATOLI
