Australia’s rural heartlands are sounding the alarm as the federal government slows approvals for working holiday visas — a lifeline for farmers and disaster recovery teams. These backpackers, who often make up 75% of volunteers in groups like BlazeAid, aren’t just cheap labor; they’re economic engines that spend locally, rebuild communities, and keep food on shelves. With the government reviewing migration policy, farming advocates warn that cutting this program could spike produce prices and force costly machinery purchases. While the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme is touted as an alternative, it doesn’t replace the unique flexibility and cost-effectiveness of working holiday makers — especially for crops like mangoes that need both harvest hands and income security. Farmers are now formally lobbying to protect this vital workforce before Australia’s food supply chain takes a hit.
Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn.
Advertise on DNN: advertise@thednn.ai
This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting. Report issues to feedback@thednn.ai.
Podden och tillhörande omslagsbild på den här sidan tillhör
The Daily News Now!. Innehållet i podden är skapat av The Daily News Now! och inte av,
eller tillsammans med, Poddtoppen.
