The Joint Standing Committee on Migration has today tabled its final report on its inquiry into the Working Holiday Maker program.

Media release issue date: Monday, 30 November 2020

The Joint Standing Committee on Migration has today tabled its final report on its inquiry into the Working Holiday Maker program. “During this inquiry, the Committee received highly compelling evidence on the ongoing importance of the Working Holiday Maker program to Australia,” Committee Chair Julian Leeser MP said. “Working Holiday Makers make a significant contribution to Australia, not only through their tourism spending, but by supplementing the seasonal workforce, and through cultural exchange,” Mr Leeser continued. This report builds on the findings of the interim report and calls for the measures taken in response to that report to be promoted. “Following the interim report and the measures the Government has put in place to address agricultural labour shortages, it is clear there is a need to further promote the opportunities that exist for Australians and other visa holders to help with areas of critical need.” “The Committee also made a range of recommendations on longer term changes to the program, many of which focus on expanding the program and technical matters relating to the visas.” The Committee’s key recommendations focus on enabling Working Holiday Makers who are working in hard-to-staff regions to stay in the regions for longer, expanding the program, strengthening oversight and administration of the program, and undertaking a targeted marketing campaign to encourage Australians and other visa holders in Australia to help fill the agricultural and tourism labour shortages. The Committee thanks all those who participated in this inquiry. The report can be found at this link. Media inquiries Annie Phillips Julian.Leeser.MP@aph.gov.au 0411 860 078 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4560 migration@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The Joint Standing Committee on Migration has today tabled an interim report on its inquiry into the Working Holiday Maker program.

Media release issue date: Tuesday, 15 September 2020

The Joint Standing Committee on Migration has today tabled an interim report on its inquiry into the Working Holiday Maker program. “During the course of the Committee’s public hearings, it quickly emerged that a major shortage in agricultural labour is emerging,” Committee Chair Julian Leeser MP said. “Time after time, the submissions and witnesses to this inquiry told the Committee about the effect that a lack of working holiday makers entering Australia would have on the upcoming harvest season,” Mr Leeser continued. “The Committee took the decision to publish an interim report, making recommendations that aim to assist the Parliament and the Government in responding to the urgency of the labour shortages.” The Committee’s key recommendations focus on using Australians and temporary visa holders currently residing in Australia to fill the shortfall for the current season. In addition we also consider that the Federal Government with the State and Territory governments and industry organisations should work together to recruit additional people under the Seasonal Workers Program and Pacific Labour Scheme to fill urgent shortfalls in agriculture. The Committee will continue the Working Holiday Maker inquiry, and report on the wider terms of reference later in 2020. The interim report can be found at this link. Media inquiries Annie Phillips Julian.Leeser.MP@aph.gov.au 0411 860 078 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4560 migration@aph.gov.au

The Joint Standing Committee on Migration will be holding three days of hearings for its inquiry into the Working Holiday Maker program on 9, 10 and 11 September.

Media release issue date: Wednesday, 9 September 2020

The Joint Standing Committee on Migration will be holding three days of hearings for its inquiry into the Working Holiday Maker program on 9, 10 and 11 September. Committee Chair Mr Julian Leeser MP noted that the hearings so far have mostly focused on Working Holiday Makers and the agriculture sector, and the Committee will turn its focus to other important matters. “In our inquiry so far, we have received much evidence on the impact of border closures and the departure of approximately 50,000 Working Holiday Makers on the agriculture industry,” Mr Leeser said. “This week’s hearings will further explore the broader context of the Working Holiday Maker visa, as the Committee talks with representatives of the tourism industry, and organisations and individuals involved in protecting Working Holiday Makers from exploitation in the workplace.” “Crucially, the Committee will also hear from some Working Holiday Makers themselves, about their experiences of the program,” Mr Leeser said. “The Committee has received a large amount of correspondence from Working Holiday Makers both onshore and offshore and will be taking this into account when making recommendations.” Public hearing details Date: Wednesday 9 September 2020 Time: 12.30pm – 4pm Location: by teleconference Date: Thursday 10 September 2020 Time: 12.30pm – 4pm Location: by teleconference Date: Friday 11 September 2020 Time: 9.00am – 11.30am Location: by videoconference The hearings will be streamed at aph.gov.au/live. Further details on the inquiry, including the terms of reference, are available on the inquiry website. Media inquiries Annie Phillips Julian.Leeser.MP@aph.gov.au 0411 860 078 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4560 migration@aph.gov.au

The Joint Standing Committee on Migration will hold a public hearing today for its inquiry into the Working Holiday Maker program, with a particular focus on the agricultural sector.

Media release issue date: Thursday, 13 August 2020

The Joint Standing Committee on Migration will hold a public hearing today for its inquiry into the Working Holiday Maker program, with a particular focus on the agricultural sector. Committee Chair Julian Leeser says the hearing will be an opportunity to hear from groups about the upcoming harvest season, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the available workforce.                        ‘In our inquiry so far, we have heard from a diverse range of groups and government departments with a wide range of connections to the Working Holiday Maker program,’ Mr Leeser said. ‘This hearing is an opportunity to focus on the workforce issues facing the horticulture industry from groups on the front line of this issue, including Fruit Growers Victoria and the Greater Shepparton City Council.’ ‘The Committee will hear from AgriLabour, a labour hire company working with both Working Holiday Makers and agriculture businesses around Australia.’ Public hearing details Date: Thursday 13 August 2020 Time: 12.30pm – 4pm Location: by teleconference The hearing will be streamed at aph.gov.au/live. Further details on the inquiry, including the terms of reference, are available on the inquiry website. Media inquiries Annie Phillips Julian.Leeser.MP@aph.gov.au 0411 860 078 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4560 migration@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The Joint Standing Committee on Migration has launched an inquiry into the Working Holiday Maker program to ensure it is working effectively to support the tourism, health care and agriculture sectors during the COVID-19 economic recovery.

Media release issue date: Wednesday, 24 June 2020

The Joint Standing Committee on Migration has launched an inquiry into the Working Holiday Maker program to ensure it is working effectively to support the tourism, health care and agriculture sectors during the COVID-19 economic recovery. Working Holiday Makers contribute around $3 billion a year to the Australian economy and support jobs in regional Australia. They arrive in Australia with money to spend and inject the wages they earn here back into local communities. The program is also important for building people-to-people links and gives young Australians the chance to visit and work in over 40 countries. Working holiday makers are a major contributor to the labour force in the agriculture, tourism, health care and aged care sectors. There are around 50,000 fewer backpackers in Australia because of the coronavirus, but once borders re-open, they will be key to filling some roles where Australian workers are usually not available, particularly in regional areas. The Committee will look at how backpackers can complement, rather than compete with those Australian workers laid off because of the pandemic. Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Migration, Julian Leeser MP says that given the COVID-19 pandemic has effectively closed Australia’s borders and stopped the flow of working holiday makers, it is important to examine how this will impact the economy and look closely at the program to ensure it is working in Australia’s interest. “The very clear focus at the moment must be on getting Australians back into work and how migration can support our economic recovery,” Mr Leeser said. “We will be looking closely at the program to make sure it is supporting Australian jobs and making visa holders available to support businesses that need more people, particularly in regional communities which have relied on these workers in the past,” Mr Leeser said. The Government has already made changes to allow Working Holiday Makers working in critical sectors – such as health care and agriculture – to stay longer with one employer and to be eligible for a further visa to continue working in these sectors. In February, the Government also made changes to allow backpackers to better assist with the recovery and rebuilding efforts following the bushfires that devastated many rural and regional communities. The Committee is encouraging people to contribute to the process. Submissions to the inquiry will be accepted until 24 July 2020. Media inquiries Annie Phillips Julian.Leeser.MP@aph.gov.au 0411 860 078 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4560 migration@aph.gov.au