'Not where the problems are': Working holiday visa slowdown divides parties
Working holidaymakers fill a labour shortage doing jobs like fruit picking, waiting tables and guiding tours in regional areas.
The Australian government has announced a slowdown in processing working holiday visa applications as concerns rise over maintaining net migration numbers. The Home Affairs Minister, Tony Burke, confirmed on Sunday that while visas are still being processed, they are being handled more slowly than before. However, he provided no further details about the reason for this slowdown.
Burke suggested that the Pacific workers scheme is the primary visa for temporary staff, distancing the issue from backpackers. This development has divided political parties, with some arguing that the reduction of working holiday visas could impact agriculture and other sectors reliant on migrant labor.
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