Labor’s backpacker crackdown will hurt the regions Australia relies on

There is no question that immigration into Australia is out of control.

The government’s numbers are too high, and standards are too low.

A sustainable migration program must consider our capacity to provide housing, healthcare, infrastructure and the essential services everyone relies on, and Australians must come first.

But Labor’s decision to target Working Holiday Makers Visa holders is not the answer.

These people filling vital gaps in our workforce are not the cause of Australia’s housing crisis. In many cases, they are living in accommodation provided by the very businesses that employ them.

The National Farmers’ Federation has made the point that Working Holiday Makers generally stay in hostels, caravan parks or purpose-built on-farm accommodation. Resorts usually have on-site staff quarters. They are not the source of Australia’s housing shortage.

So why is Labor making it harder for them to come here, when these workers fill genuine jobs that regional Australia holds?

Working Holiday Makers fill approximately one in seven farm jobs nationally and are particularly important during peak agricultural periods, which for Dawson, it is right now! Farmers rely on these workers to plant, pick, pack and harvest the produce that ends up on Australian supermarket shelves.

Having run one of Australia’s largest tomato farms, at times Working Holiday Makers made up more than 50 per cent of my workforce. Without them, much of our crop simply would not have been picked in time and rotted in the paddock.

Some may say, why not employ the Australians who don’t have a job and are on “the dole”? Can I say, this does not work. Most farmers will employ Aussies over travelling backpackers, but many either don’t want to do the work or don’t turn up after the first day. Who picks the fruit or veggies then?

Farmers are already warning that visa delays are leaving them without workers. The NFF says approvals that once took days are now facing processing times of up to three months, and this time frame can be the difference between harvesting a crop or losing it.

That should concern every Australian already feeling the pressure at the supermarket checkout.

The same problem is playing out in tourism.

Across Dawson, Working Holiday Makers are an important part of the workforce supporting tourism and hospitality, particularly in the Whitsundays. They help fill shifts, work in hotels and restaurants, support tour operators and keep businesses running through their busiest periods.

They also contribute to the local economy.

They spend money on food, fuel, attractions and tours, supporting the small businesses that depend on a strong visitor economy.

That is why tourism and business leaders across North Queensland are raising the alarm. They understand what happens when a regional business cannot get enough staff: opening hours are reduced, and services are cut, creating a downward spiral.

We do need to reduce migration to sustainable levels. We need stronger integrity measures, and we need to crack down on rorts.

But responsible migration policy means understanding which parts of the system are creating pressure and which parts are helping Australia function.

Working Holiday Makers are not the problem. They are part of the workforce solution for regional Australia.

People have had a gutful of watching their standard of living go backwards. Groceries, fuel, housing and everyday expenses are already putting enormous pressure on families.

The last thing Australians need is another reckless policy that makes it harder to produce food, harder to run regional businesses and harder for tourism operators to find the workers they need.

Labor cannot claim to be serious about cost-of-living pressures while making it harder for regional Australia to function.

This is not about opening the migration floodgates.

It is about having the common sense to understand the correct levers to pull.

Regional Australia should not be collateral damage of Labor’s failure to manage the migration system.

ENDS

Contact: Amanda Wright | Media & Communications Adviser
P | 07 4944 0662   M | 0455 456 705   E | Amanda.Wright@aph.gov.au