Australia encourages British backpackers to visit rural regions

The Australian government is reviewing visa rules for British backpackers following concerns from regional businesses about labour shortages. While many British travellers choose to remain in Sydney, businesses in areas like Far North Queensland report a significant decline in seasonal workers since the UK free trade agreement began in 2023.

Dan McConnell, general manager of the Mad Monkey backpacker hostel chain, stated, "Many Brits don't treat it as a working holiday anymore. It's more a three-year career break." He noted that while British visitors once dominated his Cairns accommodation, "now French outnumber British three to one," adding, "We see the Brits get to Sydney, decide it's the coolest place in the world, and stay there."

Under current arrangements, other nationalities must complete 88 days of specified regional work to qualify for a second-year extension, and six months for a third year. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently discussed the potential for similar requirements with UK counterpart Andy Burnham during a meeting of Commonwealth leaders in the Caribbean. Albanese told reporters he had pushed for rule changes, noting that Burnham was "very constructive about it," and added, "We'll work those issues through over coming weeks."

According to the National Farmers Federation, backpackers fill one in seven farm jobs, with approximately 52,000 working holiday visa holders employed in horticulture annually. While the federation welcomed the discussions, they expressed concern regarding broader government proposals from September to reduce net migration. These plans include introducing a ballot system for visa extensions, potentially capping second-year stays at 45,000 and third-year stays at 5,000.

The federation described these proposed caps as "a low blow." Meanwhile, Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive Mark Olsen has been lobbying in Canberra, highlighting that British backpacker numbers in the region have fallen from a peak of around 20,000 to approximately 11,000. Olsen stated, "Numbers have dropped significantly since the UK free trade agreement kicked in when border arrangements returned to normal [after the pandemic] in 2023."