As federal politicians vow to cut immigration, regional Queensland businesses need ‘every hand we can get’
News Source
•Fri, 09 Oct 2026 14:00:30 GMT
📰 What Happened
The federal government plans to cut the number of working holiday visas. Second-year places will drop to 45,000 from 57,000. Third-year places will fall to just 5,000. People from the UK are exempt. Businesses in regional Queensland say these young visitors are vital. In some hospitality companies they make up more than 60% of staff.
One barista, Sydney Schetter, says she would not even bother applying for a second year under the new rules. Applicants will now enter a ballot for the few remaining spots.
🔍 The Backstory
Working holiday visas let young people from other countries live and work in Australia for a year or more. Many take farm, cafe and tourism jobs that locals often skip. During the pandemic, rules were loosened to keep them here longer. The government now wants to lower overall migration numbers. Regional towns worry this will leave them short of workers.
🎯 Why It Matters
Fewer backpackers could mean closed cafes and slower farms in country towns. It also affects young travellers who dream of working in Australia.
The federal government plans to cut the number of working holiday visas. Second-year places will drop to 45,000 from 57,000. Third-year places will fall to just 5,000. People from the UK are exempt. Businesses in regional Queensland say these young visitors are vital. In some hospitality companies they make up more than 60% of staff.
One barista, Sydney Schetter, says she would not even bother applying for a second year under the new rules. Applicants will now enter a ballot for the few remaining spots.
Working holiday visas let young people from other countries live and work in Australia for a year or more. Many take farm, cafe and tourism jobs that locals often skip. During the pandemic, rules were loosened to keep them here longer. The government now wants to lower overall migration numbers. Regional towns worry this will leave them short of workers.
Fewer backpackers could mean closed cafes and slower farms in country towns. It also affects young travellers who dream of working in Australia.