March 18, 2016
Farmers and business owners have welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement that it will review the proposed ‘backpacker tax’ in response to concerns that it could damage Australian agriculture and tourism.
Tourism Minister Senator Richard Colbeck will head a cross-departmental review into taxation for backpackers to consider the impacts any changes might have on Australian agriculture and tourism.
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said he had raised the concerns of local farmers and tourism operators with his Parliamentary colleagues and he was pleased that a thorough review would precede any changes.
“We need to find a balanced and equitable approach to taxation for workers here on visas,” Mr Chester said.
“As a government we have to protect and support growth in the tourism and agriculture sectors, as they underpin regional economies like Gippsland.”
About 40,000 backpackers work in agriculture and horticulture, providing a critical workforce at peak periods each year when not enough Australian workers can be found.
In the tourism industry, Australia is facing a shortage of 127,000 workers in the next five years. Over 90% of workers in the tourism industry are Australian but the industry also relies on workers from overseas.
CAPTION: Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce, with Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester. Both Mr Joyce and Mr Chester have welcomed the review of the ‘backpacker tax’ after raising concerns of their local constituents.
