Government back to the drawing board on backpacker crackdown
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke reconsiders the government's backpacker crackdown, but says it must still find a way to curb the surge in UK working holiday-makers who are permitted, under a free trade agreement, to stay for up to three years.
The Australian government is revisiting its controversial overhaul of the working holiday visa scheme. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke is exploring ways to limit the influx of British backpackers, who are drawn to a free trade deal allowing UK citizens to reside in Australia for up to three years without specific work requirements.
Business leaders are urging the government to provide clarity to industries that rely on backpackers for labor. Burke confirmed the government is re-evaluating its proposed crackdown on backpackers, as it navigates the challenges of a surge in UK working holiday-makers and broader concerns about migration numbers. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has ruled out imposing work requirements on UK backpackers, which has contributed to a significant increase in their numbers.
The government is also considering delaying the implementation of a ballot system for non-British backpackers seeking to extend their stay, as industries warn such changes could harm their operations. Despite the ongoing discussions with industry stakeholders, Burke stated that the overall target for reducing working holiday visas remains unchanged.
Businesses have expressed concerns about the uncertainty surrounding the policy changes, particularly in regional areas that heavily depend on working holiday-makers for employment.
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.
