Visa changes threaten Manjimup’s tourism and agriculture sectors

Both Fowler and his employees are voicing concerns over recent changes to Australia’s working holiday visa program.

“It’s only going to make things harder, and it takes away our ability to function,” Fowler stated. He had recently purchased a second pub in Pemberton, anticipating staffing it with backpackers, a plan now jeopardized by the new regulations.

Fowler estimates his business processes between 50 and 80 backpackers annually, and without them, he fears a complete workforce collapse. He notes a current shortage of available workers.

The federal government’s decision to initially slow visa applications in August drew criticism from agricultural and regional communities nationwide. Premier Roger Cook has urged federal Immigration Minister Tony Burke to reconsider the restrictions, which limit second and third-year visa extensions.

A Department of Home Affairs spokesperson defended the changes, stating they are intended to ensure the program’s long-term sustainability and that the government will work with affected industries to address labor needs.

Roberto Spadotto, an Italian farmhand who met his partner, Giulia Colombo, while working in Manjimup, exemplifies the value of backpackers beyond their initial visa period. He initially picked avocados and broccoli, then managed Fowler’s pub.

“That’s where I met Giulia … one of the worst and best days of my life because picking broccoli is very tough, but I enjoyed it and I had a good outcome,” Spadotto recalled. The couple, planning to settle and build a life in Australia, are now reconsidering their plans.

Valerie Casto, another Italian traveler who worked as a chef after completing farm work, reports that the changes are deterring potential backpackers. “Half a year of a farm job can be very, very hard,” she said, “And some people don’t know if it’s worth it, if at the end the visa is not granted.”

Truffle farmer Gavin Booth, located in Pemberton, has also experienced the impact. A French backpacker he employed for two years left rather than face a lottery system for visa extensions. “She just said, ‘Stuff this, I don’t want to do this’ and left. She was happy to come here and earn the money, to spend the money in this economy, and now she’s left for Bali.”