Backpackers can now work twice as long in Australia

ATEC will continue to lobby government for a working holiday scheme for the US

A special bulletin from ‘The Bite’ today heralds Visa changes to the Working Holiday Maker Scheme which means being able to work for 6 months instead of 3 months.

Matthew Hingerty ATEC (Australian Tourism Export Council) MD says “The previous restrictions meant not only were backpackers required to move on after three months, but employers were unable to retain quality workers who were generally well-educated and highly skilled.”

“In addition, the training and administrative obligations on employers in taking on new employees had been making it increasingly uneconomical for them to employ people who were only able to stay three months.”

The changes should help alleviate some of the strain on employers, particularly in the hospitality industry, which faces a chronic shortage of workers, especially in seasonal locations.

“ATEC commends Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone for listening to and acting on industry concerns and also Tourism Minister Fran Bailey for her support…. the changes bring Australia further into line with competitor destinations such as New Zealand.”

Recent figures from the International Visitor Survey show that while Australia continues to be a desirable destination for backpackers and numbers are up, the amount of time and money backpackers spent in Australia has decreased.

The Visa changes come into effect in July. For more information, contact the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs at www.immi.gov.au.
Further backpacker industry news:

• Illegal hostels back in action – The NSW Government task force looking at authorised backpacker accommodation is steadily identifying the issues and developing a ‘comprehensive work plan’, but there has been very little progress in carrying out that plan because of a lack of dedicated resources.
  ATEC (Australian Tourism Export Council) is writing to the government on this and making a presentation to Sydney City Council with a positive response from Mayor, Clover Moore. Apart from the problems de-facto hostels in apartment buildings cause the community, there is also the loss of tax revenue to governments to consider. It is likely to be this aspect which focuses government minds to achieve compliance.
• The latest backpacker stats show numbers up (3.5% more than in 2004) but visitor nights, duration of stay and expenditure were all down. Visitor nights, duration of stay and expenditure were all down. Queensland was the only state to record increases in both backpacker numbers and nights. Backpacking Queensland launched its new website www.backpackingqueensland.com.au in Townsville recently.
• Backpacker development plan for NT – for more info contact Karen Fitzgerald karen.fitzgerald@nt.gov.au. The NT has launched a backpacker promotion with Lonely Planet targeting British and Scandi travellers. The 68-page Journeys to Authentic Australia guide is part of a joint venture between the NT, SA and WA aimed at enticing backpackers to travel beyond the well-worn East Coast travellers’ trail. Potential travellers in the UK, Norway, Sweden and Denmark can pick up a free copy of the guide from bookstores and key European trade partners such as STA Travel.