Darren Chester MP & Sam Birrell MP – Labor makes a mess of Working Holiday Maker visa applications

Labor has made a complete mess of the Working Holiday Maker visa, following revelations
that the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) will be forced to submit applications to fasttrack backpackers during critical planting and harvesting seasons.
Shadow Minister for Immigration, Senator Jonno Duniam, said that the Albanese
Government was now forcing the NFF to fix the mess it had itself created – and to effectively
act as a migration agent.
“The Labor Government must provide immediate clarity about how farmers will get the
workers they need and who will decide how – and how quickly – that happens,” Senator
Duniam said.
“It is astounding that just one week after Immigration Minister Tony Burke’s address at the
National Press Club, his immigration plan is already in disarray and falling to pieces.
“But rather than fix the mess themselves, Labor sees fit to put the burden on those who
have the least amount of time and resources to do so.
“There has also been no clarity or explanation about what will now be done to provide fixes
for other sectors beyond farming, including hospitality and tourism.”
Last week, Labor announced changes to the backpacker intake. Year two will cut the
backpacker intake from 57,000 to 45,000 and year three will cut from 31,000 to 5,000. This is
a cut in numbers over years two and three by more than 40 per cent