Businesses in Manjimup, 290 kilometres south of Perth, say the federal government’s changes to working holiday visas are already hurting, and want them scrapped.
Pub owner Paul Fowler says backpackers make up more than 70 per cent of his staff. He gets through 50 to 80 backpacking workers a year and says that without them he’d have no workforce. He had bought a second pub in nearby Pemberton before the changes were announced, planning to staff it with backpackers.
The government is allocating fewer second and third-year visa extensions, with ballots deciding who gets them. Truffle farmer Gavin Booth said a French worker on her third-year visa left for Bali rather than enter a 5,000-place lottery.
WA Premier Roger Cook has asked Immigration Minister Tony Burke to reconsider. The Department of Home Affairs says the cut will keep the program sustainable and that it will work with affected industries on labour needs.
What it means for your money
Regional employers who lean on seasonal visa workers may need to plan for tighter labour supply and higher wage costs. If you run a small business in hospitality or farming, it’s worth mapping out backup staffing before the busy season.
Source: ABC Business