FNQ leaders jet off to lobby Canberra on working visas
Douglas tourism
A leadership delegation led by Leichhardt MP Matt Smith and Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive Mark Olsen has flown to Canberra this week to present a case for reversing some of the Federal Government changes to the working-visa system.
Mr Smith said he had been “working hard behind the scenes to co-ordinate a unified front of Far North Queensland industry leaders” in the past few weeks since Immigration Minister Tony Burke flagged the sweeping changes - which include second-year visas being reduced from 57,000 to 45,000 places annually, backpackers having to complete a required 88 days of specified regional work despite not being guaranteed a second year, a ballot for second-and-third-year positions, and third-year visas being cut significantly from 31,000 to just 5000 places.
Mr Smith said the changes were being made to “ensure that it delivers the skills we need while ending exploitation and rorts”, but the delegation group now had the opportunity to “propose policy amendments to senior cabinet members”.
"Government policy is best when informed by honest and open discussion, which I'm determined to facilitate in Parliament House,” Mr Smith said.
"The Far North is unique in the way our economy works with regards to the Working Holiday Makers and I know the community has concerns regarding the Government’s proposed changes.
"Amendments to the proposed Working Holiday Visa program must consider the vital importance of foreign workers in the regions."
TTNQ chief executive Mr Olsen welcomed the chance to be heard.
“We need to ensure the region’s tourism industry continues to fully utilise our infrastructure including our rooms, seats on the Reef Fleet and seats in restaurants during peak season when our workforce grows,” he said.
“We look forward to exploring options to maintain tourism’s productive capacity so that our industry continues to bring in valuable export dollars into our regional economy.”
A raft of policy changes were announced last month designed to cut net migration from 245,000 this financial year to 225,000 in 2027/28.
As part of the changes, a “no further stay” condition is being introduced to all visitor visas to “ensure they are only used by genuine visitors and not as a pathway to extending a stay in Australia”.
The changes will be progressively rolled out across the next year.
