A farming industry group has warned that new restrictions on backpacker visas could lead to shortages of seasonal workers, resulting in empty supermarket shelves and rising food costs for consumers. The government’s immigration minister dismissed the claims, instead framing visa processing reforms as a beneficial move for agriculture. Labor’s proposed changes, announced at a press event, were scaled back due to opposition from the main opposition party, limiting the scope of potential policy shifts. The debate highlights tensions between industry demands for labor and political constraints on reform.
Farming lobby says shoppers will see emptier shelves and higher prices because of restrictions on backpackersGet our new political email, free app or daily news podcastThe farming lobby’s claim that immigration rule changes will increase food prices for households is wrong, Tony Burke has said, describing moves to speed up processing of backpacker visas as a positive step for agriculture.Burke unveiled Labor’s long-awaited reforms at the National Press Club on Thursday, flagging that the plan was more limited than the government would like, due to a lack of support for wider legislation from the Coalition. Continue reading...
