Facing mounting pressure from the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) and regional MPs, the federal government on 25 September agreed to expedite a select pool of Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa applications for seasonal farm work. The stop-gap measure follows a slowdown in processing caused by new backpacker-visa caps announced last week. Under the “good-faith” arrangement, farm employers can nominate urgent roles—such as fruit-picking or machinery operation—that require workers to arrive within three months. The Department of Home Affairs will prioritise these WHM applications, aiming to clear them in days rather than weeks, although standard security and health checks remain. NFF chief executive Michael Guerin said the sector relies on about 40 000 backpackers each harvest and warned that unpicked crops could cost more than A$500 million if labour gaps persist. Farmers welcomed the reprieve but stressed it is a temporary fix that does not replace longer-term migration reforms promised by Minister Tony Burke. For agribusinesses with global supply chains, the deal reduces short-term risk of raw-material shortages and export-contract penalties. Mobility teams should, however, note that only applicants who have already lodged WHM requests are eligible; new entrants must wait until the next program year unless caps are lifted. The episode illustrates the delicate balance between curbing migration numbers and meeting critical skills shortages—an issue likely to resurface when the government unveils its full migration strategy in the December mini-budget.
Source: ABC News
