There are growing concerns that the Federal Government’s recently-announced decision to overhaul the Working Holiday Maker program will leave employers unable to find enough backpackers to fill regional vacancies … and that could mean grey nomad labour is in more demand than ever.
A ballot system is to be introduced to limit the number of backpackers able to stay in Australia beyond one year.
Eligibility for a second-year stay will be capped at 45,000 places, and at just 5,000 places for a third year. Last year about 57,000 backpackers stayed in Australia for a second year and 31,000 for a third year.
The Australian Tourism Industry Council (ATIC) said it was bad news for the regional communities that rely on backpackers as both visitors and workers.
Farmers may be looking for grey nomads to fill the gap left by dwindling numbers of backpackers PIC: Rafaela Freire/ Pexels
“This is a mass cut to regional backpackers,” said ATIC CEO, Erin McLeod. “These changes will slash longer-stay regional backpackers by 43%.”
Tourism Tropical North Queensland CEO, Mark Olsen, said the region currently had more than 5,000 Working Holiday Makers.
“One in three agricultural workers north of Cardwell is a working holidaymaker and they make up more than half the staff in some of our hotels,” he said. “The tourism industry already faces workforce shortages at peak times … we cannot afford to lose these temporary workers.”
He said older travellers could play a part in filling some of the shortfall and encouraged grey nomads to call farmers and offer their services … although he feared it wouldn’t be enough.
“There is no barrier for Australian grey nomads to work in regional areas,” he said. “But, while there are people with long careers giving back in the workforce, the volume is well short of what is needed.”
Michelle Weston, the CEO of the Caravan Parks Association of Queensland, said grey nomads often helped to fill seasonal workforce gaps, with some returning to the same park winter after winter.
“They can be an incredibly valuable workforce,” she said. “Although for pensioners, the interaction between hours worked, income earned and pension entitlements can influence how much work they are willing to take on.”
She urged grey nomads interested in picking up work while travelling to talk to the parks they stay at.
“Even if the park doesn’t have a role available, operators often know which local tourism businesses are looking for extra hands, particularly during peak periods,” she said.
NSW Farmers President, Rebecca Reardon, said the changes were also potentially disastrous for farmers who rely on seasonal workers.
“Farmers have spent months planning for the upcoming harvest, including making arrangements with workers from overseas,” she said. “They now have no certainty whether those workers will be able to arrive in time.”
A spokesperson for the Federal Government said it would ‘continue to work closely with stakeholders to uphold our international commitments and ensure critical workforce needs, including in agriculture, are met.’
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