There are fears Federal Labor’s changes to the working holiday maker system will destroy regional communities such as Bundaberg and create enormous panic across our farming communities.
Member for Hinkler David Batt said the Government’s temporary migrant policies are still heading in the wrong direction, despite calls from community and industry advocates to rethink the idea.
“Labor’s changes to the backpacker visa have gone from bad to worse and will destroy our farming communities,” Mr Batt said.
“It means about one in five backpackers will miss out on year two applications, and five in six will miss out on year three applications — this is a horrendous outcome and much worse than anything we could have expected.
Year two will cut the backpacker intake from 57,000 to 45,000 and year three will cut from 31,000 to 5000, which means a cut in numbers over years two and three by more than 40 per cent.
Bundaberg Fruit & Vegetable Growers Chief Executive Officer Bree Watson said a 40 per cent reduction in working holiday makers will have devastating consequences for our region.
“The recently released Wide Bay Burnett Horticulture Economic Report 2024–25 confirms the significant contribution horticulture makes to our region,” Ms. Watson said.
Tina McPherson from Bundaberg’s Tinaberries said her business relies on working holiday makers all year round.
“Over the past twenty years we could not have survived without our backpacker workforce, they are vital to our region,” Ms McPherson said.
“We need confidence that workers will be available when our crops are ready so we can plan our workforce, manage our harvest and continue supplying fresh produce to Australian consumers,” Ms McPherson said.
