Farming, tourism leaders slam federal government's backpacker cuts
Farming and tourism industry leaders say cuts to backpacker numbers will slash the available workforce across regional Australia.
Australia's farming and tourism industries are expressing strong opposition to federal government plans to slash backpacker visa numbers. These workers are vital to the operations of these sectors. The government's changes, which include introducing a ballot system for extending stays and reducing the number of backpackers, have been met with criticism from industry leaders.
Federal Minister Tony Burke defended the move, stating that the government must prioritize migrants with skills needed in areas such as construction and agriculture. However, industry groups like the National Farmers’ Federation warn that these cuts could jeopardize food security, regional economies, and farm safety. They argue that the processing time for visas, extended to three months, is already causing significant disruptions for farmers in the midst of harvest season.
The tourism lobby also highlights the economic impact, estimating that the cuts could lead to the loss of 4,500 backpackers and $62 million in tourism spend.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
