Farmers and tourism operators are calling for the Federal Government to allow backpackers into the country to harvest crops and do other jobs required of them.

The National Farmer Federation (NFF) and Backpacker Youth Tourism Advisory Panel (BYTAP) are calling for an urgent restart to the Working Holiday Maker program.

With half the number of backpackers in Australia since international borders closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 early this year, there has been a potential shortfall of more than 20,000 working holidaymakers.

The appeal argues that backpackers should be allowed into the country to work as au pairs and harvest labourers. They also feel that the backpackers would boost Australia’s travel industry that is struggling due to COVID-19.

NFF chief executive Tony Mahar said 30 federal politicians received the appeal.

“A recent report detailed that without access to working holiday-makers, the fresh fruit and vegetable industry may suffer a $6.3 billion reduction in value and the cost of produce could increase by 60 per cent,” he said, adding that backpackers made up 80 per cent of the workforce in the industry.

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Backpacker Youth Tourism Advisory Panel spokeswoman Wendi Aylward $3.2 billion was contributed by backpackers to the economy each year.

“Each working holiday-maker brings $5,000 with them as a visa requirement, spends $10,300 during their stay,” she said.

Tje NFF and the advisory panel have come up with a scheme to use visa fees to subsidise the cost of COVID-19 testing, and they have called for the Federal Government to consider offsetting the costs of quarantine with the 15 per cent backpacker tax or superannuation earned by working holiday-makers.

Hort Innovation commissioned a report which states that  the industry would fall short of 26,000 workers this summer, however Department of Agriculture officials cannot confirm the 26,000 figure is “accurate”.

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The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARES) had also looked at the industry and found that labour in agriculture increases from around 315,000 workers in September to 354,000 in February before falling back down in May.

ABARES analysis shows that between September and February the use of overseas workers in agriculture increases by around 20,000.