A coalition of peak bodies – including the Tourism & Transport Forum, National Farmers’ Federation, Accommodation Australia and the Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry – issued a joint broadside yesterday against the federal government’s plan to introduce a lottery for second- and third-year Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visas. Announced by Immigration Minister Tony Burke last week, the policy will replace guaranteed extensions with a ballot capped at 45,000 places for second-year visas and just 5,000 for third-year renewals. Industry analysis released on 22 September calculates that the cap removes 38,000 potential backpacker workers compared with 2025 approvals – a labour supply worth an estimated AU$1.86 billion in wages. Tourism operators warn the move will deter backpackers from undertaking the 88 or 179 days of regional work required to qualify for an extension, undermining staffing in harvest, hospitality and remote tourism hotspots. Farmers meanwhile fear crops will rot if fewer backpackers gamble on a one-in-six chance of securing a third year. The groups accuse the government of zero consultation and demand clarity on ballot mechanics, transitional rules and whether quotas will be sliced by visa subclass or country of origin. They also note that processing times are already blowing out to three months – incompatible with just-in-time harvest cycles. Unless the government revisits the design, businesses may have to rely more heavily on the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme or expensive domestic recruitment campaigns. Mobility managers in agriculture and seasonal tourism should factor in tighter WHM supply from November and explore alternative short-term labour-hire channels.
