Backpacker Visa Limits Threaten Country Town Businesses and Farms

Small businesses and farms in the southern Western Australia town of Manjimup rely heavily on backpacker labour, with locals warning that federal visa changes will cripple the community. The federal government is pushing ahead with plans to limit working holiday visas, which include ballot caps for second and third-year extensions. In Paul Fowler's country pub, more than half a dozen backpackers make up over 70 per cent of the workforce, with Italian travellers keeping the business running from the front of house to the busy kitchen. Mr Fowler bought a second pub in the neighbouring town of Pemberton before the visa changes were announced, planning to staff it with backpackers, but that business is now under threat. He estimates his pubs go through 50 to 80 backpacking workers a year. The federal government's decision to initially slow down visa applications in August drew heavy criticism from farming and regional communities across the country. The move to allocate fewer second and third-year extensions also prompted WA Premier Roger Cook to ask federal Immigration Minister Tony Burke to reconsider the restrictions. A spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs stated the reduction will ensure the program's long-term sustainability and that the department would work with affected industries.

Background

Many travellers like Roberto Spadotto and Valerie Casto complete mandatory farm work, such as picking broccoli or working in seedling nurseries, to earn visa extensions that allow them to stay longer. Locals and workers argue that the proposed rules fail to account for the crucial benefits these backpackers provide beyond their initial year in the region.