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Farmers left fighting for future after backpacker rule changes

Farmers are “very concerned” for the future of their properties and the agricultural industry after the federal government introduced further migration changes this month.

Kim Bremner and his family run two irrigation properties, specialising in the production of cotton, corn and wheat, on the outskirts of Dalby.

He claims the recent changes is proof the Labor Party is back to its “old tricks of whacking farmers every opportunity they get”.

“We’re really concerned that the federal government isn’t interested in helping farmers out with their employment,” Bremner says

Five big modifications introduced on July 1 restrict a broad range of visa programs. These include a 25 per cent increase in visa charges for Working Holiday Makers, making Australia up to five times more expensive than countries like Canada and New Zealand, and a new wage threshold for temporary skilled migration.

The cap on student visa working hours was brought back, but at higher hours than previously, and participants in the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme will be required to follow “same job, same pay” rules. And from next year, the requirement for British backpackers to undertake specified regional work to gain a second visa has been cancelled

“It’s a recipe for deeper worker shortages. Every one of these measures makes it harder for people to come to Australia and contribute to our regions,” National Farmers’

Bremner says once the borders were fully opened to backpackers following Covid, his property had more than 70 applications for work.

However, now the incentives are not there for people to venture out of the cities, or even into Australia.

“I mean, is the government going to try to keep out a recession or not?” he says. “If they want to go into a recession, the way they’re doing it with the backpackers is a sure-fire way to reduce the amount of activity in the country.

“If you’re working in a bar in Brisbane and getting whatever money you want as a backpacker, what’s the incentive to go see the rest of the country and work west of the ranges? It will make it harder for us.”

AgForce chief executive Michael Guerin says the government’s decisions would put “production at risk and lifts the cost of food for all Australians”.

“Agriculture is completely reliant on seasonal workers, with the level of demand not being able to be satisfied from Australian residents,” he says.

“Therefore, industry relies on backpackers, without which we would lose some of our food security and surety hitherto taken for granted in Australia. (We want to see) a true codesign process between industry, community, unions and government to set policies that allow agriculture and its communities to flourish.”