Urgent calls for changes to backpacker visa rules

THERE are growing calls for the Federal Government to urgently extend working holiday visa rules to allow foreign backpackers to work in regional tourism hotspots. 

A shortage of hospitality workers has hit all regions since the pandemic but could be quickly eased by changing strict backpacker visas to include regional hospitality, as part of their mandatory regional work requirement, Bass Coast Shire has urged. 

Some Bass Coast hospitality businesses have spoken publicly recently about shutting their doors and cutting back hours due to the lack of available staff. 

Bass Coast Shire Council Mayor Cr Michael Whelan is requesting federal Minister for Home Affairs Clare O’Neil to urgently review the visa rules. 

“It’s been a couple of tough years of pandemic restrictions for Victorian regional hospitality and tourism operators,’’ Cr Whelan said. 

“Hospitality businesses need hospitality workers to deliver the excellent service visitors expect but many are struggling at the moment due to lack of staff. 

“Given the shortage of people available to work in regional hospitality it just makes common sense to ease or extend the visa rules and I hope the Minister and the Department of Home Affairs agree.’’ 

The types of roles backpackers would be ideal for are baristas, line cooks, housekeepers, cleaners and wait staff. 

Under the current rules for the federal Working Holiday Maker visa program foreign visitors must complete three or six months of work in regional or rural Australia to apply for a second or third working holiday visa. 

But hospitality jobs are excluded unless the worker is in northern or remote Australia. 

The ‘specified work’ requirement was introduced in 2005 to address “chronic and severe labour shortages”, particularly in Australia’s major agricultural regions. 

The mandatory work must happen in designated postcodes. 

Victoria’s tourism hotspots such as Bass Coast and most parts of regional Victoria are not included. 

“For regional hospitality businesses in regional Victoria having the option of employing willing foreign workers could make a huge difference,’’ Cr Whelan said. 

“Our tourism industry is vitally important to the Bass Coast economy. Why not give backpackers the option of do the skilled roles we need and make our tourism product even better?’’ Cr Whelan said.

While Paradee Titulaer of Wonthaggi Hotel has fortunately been lucky in retaining staff, she did back the need for changes to the visa rules.

However, she noted the issue had been raised with the shire some time ago.

“The other issue was accommodation, some of the venues were able to get workers but the lack of housing and rentals meant they weren’t able to retain them,” she said.

“The rental situation in Wonthaggi is crazy but hopefully it should mellow out.”

She highlighted that even if changes were made for backpackers, accommodation would still be a major hindrance.

Adventure Tourism Victoria (ATV) is also calling on the State Government to advocate on the behalf of Victoria’s regional tourism and hospitality businesses and allow Working Holiday Makers (WHMs) further opportunities to extend their stays in Victoria.

Supporting this initiative was Destination Phillip Island, as well as many other tourism operators and organisations.  

ATV is calling on the Victorian Government to fight for Victoria’s visa conditions for WHMs to be in line with the entirety of NT, and anywhere in WA and QLD that is north of the tropic of Capricorn.

Currently, Subclass 417 and Subclass 462 visa holders are required to complete 88 days of agricultural or other specified work in regional Victoria to extend their visa for an additional year, while in the aforementioned states, they can complete this work in tourism and hospitality.