Australia visa changes spark concerns for agriculture and tourism

The Australian government is implementing significant changes to temporary visa regulations, including a new ballot system for second- and third-year Working Holiday Maker visas, to reduce net overseas migration. The proposed measures include reducing the cap on second-year visas from 57,000 to 45,000 and slashing third-year allocations from 31,000 to 5,000.

Industry bodies across the agriculture, tourism, and hospitality sectors have expressed grave concerns regarding these changes. Fruit and vegetable growers, including those in Tasmania and the Northern Territory, warn that the reduction in seasonal backpackers could lead to massive crop losses, such as mangoes being left to rot, and higher consumer prices. In Western Australia, farmers report that visa processing delays are already threatening multibillion-dollar harvests.

Additionally, the government is tightening rules for international students, including restrictions on bringing family members to Australia and requirements to progress to higher-level qualifications. While the government maintains these steps are necessary to protect the integrity of the visa system and prioritize skilled migration in sectors like healthcare and construction, critics argue the uncertainty will deter workers and visitors from regional Australia.