The federal government plans to reduce the number of working holiday visas in a bid to reduce migration.
asserted
government → plan → migration
Backpackers and foreign holiday-makers often perform essential jobs in regional parts of Australia.
asserted
Backpackers → perform → Australia
Businesses across Western Australia's north are worried recent visa changes will mean fewer backpackers choose to work in remote regions where they are most needed.
asserted
they → worry → regions
The federal government has recently announced changes to the Working Holiday Maker visa program, which could influence decisions of backpackers coming to Australia in the future.
uncertain
which → announce → future
"I did come here to work towards my third year visa, and if that wasn't an option, I would never have come here," Zac Cederholm said.
asserted
Cederholm → come → visa
The American barista moved to Kununurra, about 3,000 kilometres north of Perth, a few years ago and now manages a cafe — but said he would not have ventured this remote today.
Fewer incentives, fewer workers
Backpackers wanting to extend their visas for a second or third year must work in regional or remote Australia — 88 days for a second year, and six months for a third.
asserted
Backpackers → move → third
Under the government's changes, which are being progressively rolled out over the next year, Immigration Minister Tony Burke said backpackers would also have to enter a ballot, with third-year extensions capped at 5,000, down from 31,000 this year.
asserted
extensions → roll → 31,000
Mr Cederholm said these changes would make it less attractive for backpackers to come to remote Australia, where they currently do essential jobs like picking fruit, stacking shelves and serving tables.
asserted
they → say → tables
"If you can have staff that stay around for potentially six months, that's consistency, that's reliability," he said.
asserted
he → have → months
Mr Cederholm said the visa changes would also do very little to ease some of the region's ongoing issues like housing, with most temporary migrants in the Kimberley living in hostels, dongas and share houses.
asserted
migrants → say → hostels
"I don't know any backpackers that have taken up single houses," he said.
asserted
he → know → houses
"If we had to rely solely on local staffing, I think there'd be a lot less businesses in town."
asserted
I → have → town
Frustration and uncertainty
Australia's North West Tourism chief executive Bill Tatchell said he was calling for common sense in relation to "essential" backpackers.
asserted
he → say → backpackers
He said the policy was "incredibly frustrating" and would reduce the incentive for backpackers to undertake regional jobs.
asserted
backpackers → say → jobs
"Fundamentally, there's an economic loss and it's just beggars belief a decision can be made that can have such an impact in regions,"Mr Tatchell said.
asserted
Tatchell → be → impact
The federal government has previously pointed to guest workers from the Pacific, brought to Australia under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, as a potential source of workers impacted by the backpacker restrictions.
asserted
government → point → restrictions
But East Kimberley Chamber of Commerce chief executive Keda Bond said businesses were "definitely nervous" about the future.
asserted
businesses → say → future
She said the reduction in third-year visas would be "devastating" for the region, which relied on seasonal workers.
asserted
which → say → workers
"If five businesses close in one of our towns, like Kununurra, for example, that is felt by the whole town, the whole region, and there is an actual reduction in
asserted
that → close → town
services,"Ms Bond said.
asserted
Bond → say → ?
"I feel the government is making changes without considering regional Australia at all."
asserted
government → feel → Australia
She described the reform as a "kick in the gut" for remote businesses, already struggling after the changes to visa processing priorities to curb net overseas migration.
asserted
She → describe → migration
Haydn Sale is general manager of Yougawalla Pastoral Company, which is reopening a major abattoir near Broome.
asserted
which → reopen → Broome
But the abattoir Pindan Beef Company, struggled with skilled workers, with only one application from an Australian resident and a number of skilled workers whose visas were "held up in the system", according to Mr Sale.
uncertain
visas → struggle → Sale
Mr Sale travelled to Canberra to lobby politicians to fast-track the visa applications and help secure the workers needed for the abattoir to reopen.
asserted
abattoir → travel → workers
"I was pleasantly surprised that you can get into Parliament House and you can rattle around and make your case," Mr Sale said.
asserted
Sale → get → case
But he believes if he did not travel to Canberra, his case may never have been heard.
uncertain
case → believe → Canberra
The Aporia
