Agriculture Industry Decries Changes to Work-Holiday Visa

NFF worried working holiday visa changes could hurt farmers 

The National Farmers Federation says the expansion of the working holiday visa scheme to include the construction industry could rob farmers of the backpackers it relies on for the fruit-picking season. 

Since 2006, tourists on one-year working holiday visas have been able to extend their stay for a further 12 months if they worked for a primary producer in a regional area for at least three months. 

The scheme resulted in thousands of backpackers venturing to inland areas during the traditional picking season between September and April. 

It also applied to jobs in forestry, fishing and mining. 

National Farmers Federation (NFF) general manager of workplace relations Denita Wawn said the scheme helped, in part, ease the acute shortage of seasonal workers required for harvesting fruits and vegetables. 

The scheme has now been extended to allow those who work in the construction industry in a regional area for three months to access a second working holiday visa. 

‘We are concerned about the ramifications to agriculture in this concession being extended to construction,’ Ms Wawn said. 

‘That may dilute the numbers coming into agriculture.’ 

Immigration minister Chris Evans said the extension would help the ‘booming’ construction industry but denied farmers would suffer. 

‘The increasing numbers of working holiday makers will continue to meet the needs of other industries that employ the backpackers and will not be disadvantaged by the extension of the concession to the construction industry,’ Senator Evans said in a statement this week. 

Master Builders Australia national manager of training policy Neil Gow said ‘construction has consistently topped the league ladder for skills shortages’.' 

But Mr Gow said apart from a short-term boost, the scheme would be of limited impact in alleviating the skills problem. 

‘This is not something that’s going to, in itself, substantially address the skills shortage issues we’ve got in construction and particularly in regional Australia,’ Mr Gow said. 

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship expects to issue about 180,000 working holiday visas in 2008/09. 

The number of visitors on working holiday visas has more than doubled over the past 10 years, according to a statement issued by Senator Evans. 

While the scheme gave farmers more bodies to pick fruit and vegetables, Ms Wawn said it could not be described as a total success because backpackers were not a consistent and reliable source of labour. 

‘You’re a free agent and your whole intention of coming to Australia is to see Australia,’ Ms Wawn said of holidaying backpackers. 

‘You don’t want to be stuck in Mildura for six months of your 12-month visa, as much as we’d like them to stay there and work. 

To that end, the NFF has proposed a seasonal workers visa designed for Pacific island residents to come to Australia for a specific job and fixed period. 

When the work is finished, they return home until the following season. 

‘An alternative visa is the only answer to getting that reliable and consistent workforce that we’re currently missing,’ Ms Wawn said. 

‘We understand cabinet is considering it and we’re just waiting for a decision.’-The Australian Associated Press, July 4, 2008