Temporary Migration, Transnational Politics? The Politics of Temporary Migration in Australia

Temporary migration has become a significant component of Australia's migration programme, most notably via the skilled temporary work visa (s457), student visas with work rights and Working Holiday Maker visas, but also the pilot of the Pacific Seasonal Workers' Scheme. Temporary migration is an extremely diverse phenomenon and it clearly creates opportunities for individuals, households and states. However, it just as clearly creates additional vulnerabilities. It can be a way to get workers to do work where citizens are unwilling, and temporary migrants can be politically excluded both at home and abroad. The decoupling of citizenship and work, however, has uneven affects depending on the bargaining position of workers. This paper examines temporary migration in the Australian context, and the role of NGOs and unions engaged with these migrants. The argument made is that temporary migration transnationalises these organisations. It also shows, however, the uneasy tension between national and transnational politics and solidarities, with implications for temporary migrants.