Unions want working holidaymaker visa axed, say pandemic shows farmers' over-reliance on backpackers

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 Australian farmers need to stop hiring international backpackers to harvest their crops and instead employ young people in regional and rural areas, according to several unions.


Key points:

Unions have called for the working holiday maker visa to be abolished

The horticulture sector estimates removing backpackers from the fresh food sector will cost industry $13 billion

Australia's unemployment at highest level in 20 years

The Australian Workers' Union, the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association and the Transport Workers' Union have formed an alliance, calling for an urgent end to the working holidaymaker visa.


In a submission to a federal review of the farm workforce, the Retail Supply Chain Alliance claimed the backpacker program was rife with exploitation and called for more Australians to work on farms as well as an expansion of the seasonal worker program.


Read more: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-11/unions-call-for-end-to-working-holidaymaker-visa/12542100

Backpackers in a citrus orchard.

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