{
  "id": 8208409,
  "title": "Regional businesses alarmed as Australia limits working holiday visas",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/regional-businesses-alarmed-as-australia-limits-working-holiday-visas",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-18T08:15:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-18/working-holiday-visa-shake-up-alarms-qld-s-regional-businesses/107167986"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Regional Queensland businesses are expressing alarm over recent changes to Australia's migration system, particularly the introduction of a ballot system for working holiday makers. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced the changes, which include limiting third-year working holiday visas to 5,000 backpackers per year. Business owners fear the policy will exacerbate the housing crisis and devastate their industries.\n\nAn Irish backpacker, Fionnghuala Ni Fheinne, expressed uncertainty about her future in Australia due to the changes. She stated she would have chosen a different route if she had known about the shake-up to the working holiday visa program. German backpacker Philip De Broux shared her unease, expressing concern that the changes may impact his prospects of a second year working in Australia.\n\nPeter McLeay, owner of a Cairns backpackers hostel and a local restaurant, said the announcement has thrown his business into chaos. He emphasized that limiting the third-year visa to a one-in-six chance of being awarded is devastating for the industry, which relies heavily on backpackers. McLeay felt betrayed by the government's decision, noting that working holiday makers make up about 90% of his staff.\n\nTim Richardson, chief executive of a resort in Townsville, highlighted the crucial role played by working holiday makers in the local employment structure. He expressed concern that the visa changes could make Australia less attractive for international students seeking work opportunities. Mark Olsen, chief executive of Tourism Tropical North Queensland, warned that the changes could negatively impact Australia's competitiveness as a destination for working holiday makers.\n\nAgriculture operations, too, expressed worry that the visa changes would not address the housing crisis but would instead create additional problems. They emphasized that the industry faces a workforce shortfall and that relying on backpackers alone would not solve the problem. David Groves, field manager at a tropical fruit farm, stated that finding enough backpackers to pick their crops would mean wasted fruit.\n\nNi Fheinne is currently considering alternative avenues, such as applying for a skilled visa, but lamented the last-minute nature of her decision. She expressed shock at the government's decision and hoped that they would reconsider their policy.",
  "summary": "The tourism, hospitality and agriculture sectors in regional Queensland say changes to Australia's migration system, including introducing a ballot system for working holiday makers, will have devastating impacts.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}