The Australian government’s recent decision to reduce the number of working holiday visas has prompted strong criticism from agricultural groups, who warn the measure will exacerbate labor shortages and threaten food production across the country. The changes, announced by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, include imposing a new ballot system that will reduce the number of backpackers allowed to stay for their second and third years. The government plans to cut the second-year visa holders from 57,000 to 45,000 and decrease third-year holders from 31,000 to just 5,000.
The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) said the visa restrictions have already disrupted the agricultural sector ahead of its busiest period and described the government’s handling of the issue as a “low blow.” NFF president Hamish McIntyre emphasized that working holiday makers represent roughly one in seven farm workers, filling crucial roles in production, harvesting, and packing. He criticized the government’s new three-month visa processing target as too slow, warning it leaves farmers vulnerable in critical harvest windows.
Victorian Farmers Federation echoed these concerns, calling the policy reckless with potentially catastrophic consequences. GrainGrowers also expressed alarm, noting that backpackers constitute more than a third of the workforce in the grains sector, which contributes nearly AUD 29.3 billion annually to the economy. Chief executive Shona Gawel urged the government to reconsider the reforms and assess their impact carefully.
Large-scale producers like Victorian cherry grower Stephen Riseborough underscored the importance of backpackers to their operations. Relying on more than 100 workers for harvesting, packing, and tourism-related activities, Riseborough warned that reduced labor availability could mirror the severe disruptions experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many backpackers were forced to leave Australia. “We would not be able to harvest our full crop,” he said, describing the potential outcome as “total devastation.” He further questioned the government's rationale for categorizing working holiday makers—who typically stay less than three years—as migrants, noting that these workers usually do not contribute to housing shortages and provide vital labor that cannot be readily sourced locally.
Third-year backpackers, who are highly skilled and often help train new workers, are particularly affected by the new restrictions. Jess Chen, a third-year worker from southwest China employed at Cherryhill Orchards, highlighted the mutual benefits of the arrangement. She pointed out that her language skills help attract visitors from Asia, contributing to the orchard’s business.
Beyond agriculture, the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia raised concerns about potential impacts on employers in regional centers, while the Business Council of Australia warned that restrictions could impose broader economic costs.
The visa reductions come amid broader government efforts to tighten migration compliance. Minister Burke outlined plans to increase enforcement, including the detention of visa overstayers and hiring an additional 100 compliance officers. The government will also update ministerial directions to facilitate visa cancellations for individuals involved in child abuse, domestic violence, or extremist activities. Moreover, new “no further stay” conditions will be introduced on visitor visas to prevent them from being used as gateways for extended stays. Authorities also intend to crack down on fraudulent migration agents.
Opposition to the government’s approach has come from the Greens, with leader Larissa Waters accusing Labor of pandering to far-right influences. Waters argued the government’s policy focus on migration reflects a political shift toward culture war tactics, diverting attention from underlying economic challenges. She criticized the move as harmful to migrant communities and inconsistent with addressing the broader cost-of-living crisis.
Amidst this debate, data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics reinforces the country’s reliance on migration to offset historically low natural population growth. The latest figures show natural increase—the gap between births and deaths—remains near record lows last seen during the final year of World War II, highlighting the demographic pressures underpinning workforce and immigration policies.