Working holiday visa pause leaves farms short as harvest season looms

The Australian government has paused working holiday visa applications from 24 countries, straining farms as harvest season approaches. Farmers are worried about an impending worker shortage, particularly for tasks like packing fruit and harvesting crops. The federal government's decision to prioritize skilled visa processing over work and holiday visas has dampened hiring plans for many agricultural businesses.

Matt Bourke, a Victorian contractor, had intended to employ 30 foreign workers for the upcoming grain harvest but now faces uncertainty, as only a fraction of those workers have had their applications approved. The National Farmers Federation estimates that overseas workers make up about half of Australia's peak harvest workforce.

Agricultural employers heavily rely on two types of visas: work and holiday visas for backpackers, and skilled visas for workers with specialized skills. Despite the high number of working holiday-makers in Australia, farmers report struggling to find enough workers for the short harvest season. In the Northern Territory, Berry Creek mango packing manager Phillipa Johnson is still searching for overseas workers just weeks before harvest.

The new ministerial direction prioritizes skilled visa processing for sectors crucial to national security, construction, healthcare, and education, leaving few options for farmers who need specific skills but can't find them locally.