Backpacker visa cuts raise harvest labour shortage fears

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 27 Oct, 04:02 · Archive

Australia's federal government is cutting backpacker visas without modelling the impact on seasonal harvest labour.

Australia's federal government is reducing backpacker visas without calculating the effect on agricultural harvests. The agriculture department was consulted on the changes but has not modelled how the reforms will impact harvest volumes, deputy secretary Matt Lowe told a Senate estimates hearing in Canberra on Tuesday. He said limited workforce data from the horticulture sector was a central challenge in modelling.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced the changes to be rolled out over the next year. The second-year visa cap will fall from 57,000 to 45,000, and third-year visas will be cut from 31,000 to 5,000. Backpackers will enter a ballot for the chance to remain in Australia for more than a year, resulting in about 38,000 fewer second and third-year backpackers by 2026.

The Northern Territory government warned the changes would leave the Top End mango harvest without 1,000 workers, with 70 per cent of the crop potentially left to rot on trees. The Western Australian premier has also written to the federal government expressing concern about effects on remote communities and tourism and hospitality sectors. Labor Senator Anthony Chisholm argued the comparison to COVID-19 workforce shortages was unfair, noting government projections still sat above pre-pandemic levels.

How it is being reported

• Backpacker visa cuts spark fears of rotting cropsThe federal government says it is working with farmers on changes to backpacker visas, but there has been no modelling on impacts to harvest season.Perth Now · 27 Oct, 03:36
• Backpacker visa cuts spark fears of rotting cropsThe federal government says it is working with farmers on changes to backpacker visas, but there has been no modelling on impacts to harvest season.The West Australian · 27 Oct, 03:36

In this story: Tony Burke · Matt Lowe · Vanessa Bleyer · Anthony Chisholm · Northern Territory · Western Australia · Australia

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