Key facts
- Australia's government announced new immigration rules to reduce annual immigration by tens of thousands.
- The National Farmers Federation warned that restrictions on working holidaymaker visas could threaten the upcoming wheat harvest.
- The government plans to increase processing times for working holidaymaker visas to three months.
- One in seven farm jobs is occupied by a worker on a backpacker visa.
- Immigration Minister Tony Burke rejected claims that the changes would raise food prices.
Australia's center-left Labor government has announced a significant reduction in annual immigration, including stricter rules for working holidaymaker visas, prompting warnings from agricultural groups about potential labor shortages and threats to the upcoming wheat harvest.
Immigration Minister Tony Burke dismissed claims by the National Farmers Federation (NFF) that the changes would increase food prices, stating that the reforms are positive for agriculture and that broader cuts to overseas workers would negatively impact essential services like healthcare, construction, and aged care. The NFF, however, warned that the extended processing times for backpacker visas, which are crucial for seasonal farm work, could mean crops are left to rot.
Australia is a major global exporter of wheat and other agricultural products. The NFF stated that one in seven farm jobs is filled by a worker on a backpacker visa, with the proportion being much higher during harvest periods. The government's new rules will increase visa processing times to three months from a few days, a delay that farmers argue is unworkable.
The government's move comes amid pressure from a resurgent right-wing populist party and growing public concern over immigration levels. Net overseas migration has already declined from a peak of 556,000 in the year to September 30, 2023, to 306,000 in the year to June 30, 2025. The government plans to bolster immigration compliance with 100 additional officers and 250 detention beds.
While major employer groups like the Minerals Council of Australia and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry welcomed the reforms, some business leaders expressed concerns about the policy's implementation. Opposition lawmaker Susan McDonald warned that remote businesses might not be able to operate due to labor shortages.