Working Holiday Maker Visa Review Online portal submissions — Free text

Name

Tessa Lock

Date Lodged

23 Aug 2016 5:54:32 PM

Are you submitting as an individual or on behalf of an organisation?

Individual

Organisation name

Country

AUSTRALIA

Written Submission

We operate a small family farm. We have enjoyed hosting WWOOFers for the past 5 years and have made some life-long friends. We offer a warm welcome and many guests clearly enjoy the respite from 'hostel life'. We benefit not only from their help around the farm (usually willing, not always successful!!) but also from the great cultural exchange opportunities, especially valuable for our children, We are unable to travel extensively due to the farm, so how wonderful that the world comes to us! Unfortunately the recent visa and tax changes have caused our supply to completely dry up. Down 90%. This is going to have serious financial as well as logistical challenges as we look for paid workers this coming summer. One important issue will be the time taken out of our working day to deal with the training requirements and 'red tape' of employing temp staff. This is a key reason why we prefer to host WWOOFers.

Name

kevin lynch

Date Lodged

23 Aug 2016 6:10:15 PM

Are you submitting as an individual or on behalf of an organisation?

Organisation name

Country

AUSTRALIA

Written Submission

the volunteer workers that we engaged were not interfering with Australian jobs as they dont require training or see that volunteering was of any benefit yet people who volunteered here over 10 yrs ago agree that it was one of there life changing experiences

Name

Date Lodged

23 Aug 2016 9:13:22 PM

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Organisation name

Country

Written Submission

The industry is not sufficiently regulated to ensure that backpacker and holiday workers are protected from exploitation. This must be addressed.

I suggest that only a minimal tax be applied to international working-holiday makers (and Aussies on working holidays) in agricultural and regional employment places.

Capital city working holiday employees (including Aussies on working holidays) should pay the same tax as resident locals.

Name

Calum Carruth

Date Lodged

23 Aug 2016 10:01:52 PM

Are you submitting as an individual or on behalf of an organisation?

Organisation

Organisation name

Murchison House Station

Country

AUSTRALIA

Written Submission

As a small scale family-owned pastoral enterprise the biggest impact for us was the change that disallowed volunteer work to qualify for a second year visa. As part of the wwoof program volunteer workers gained valuable experience with us while performing short term piece work that local workers were unwilling or unable to undertake. Where we used to induct and at least partially train up to 12 wwoofers every year we have in the last 18 months only hosted 3.

Name

Date Lodged

23 Aug 2016 10:16:12 PM

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Organisation name

Country

Written Submission

I cannot even get on to a government body to search for seasonal workers whether they be Aussie or otherwise. They say they are busy and pass me on to 'another telephonist', spent 2.5 hours on the phone yesterday trying to access information from a gov dept and did not even speak to anyone who even TRIED to help. Not enough staff they told me to handle my search for staff they need all the staff to handle other jobs! Thank god for independent and other employment bodies.

Name

Jonathan Hartland

Date Lodged

23 Aug 2016 10:33:20 PM

Are you submitting as an individual or on behalf of an organisation?

Individual

Organisation name

Country

AUSTRALIA

Written Submission

I have been working with Wwoofers for the last 3 years and have found it a richly rewarding experience, both for the hosts and also the Wwoofers. We have personally met some wonderful people from all over the world and made some lifelong friends too.

Name

Frank Giles

Date Lodged

24 Aug 2016 9:22:31 AM

Are you submitting as an individual or on behalf of an organisation?

Individual

Organisation name

Country

AUSTRALIA

Written Submission

This issue is vitally important to us. For years we have employed backpackers to harvest our blueberries. We do not use labour hire companies. The backpackers contact us directly. We pay award rates and accommodate them at a low charge in a cottage otherwise use for accommodation, We have never been let down by these young people. We also have formed close friendship bonds with them and remain contact with for years afterwards.

They not only are reliable workers they hit the ground running taking only one or two days to pick the correct fruit. They never moan and complain and without exception say we are the best experience of work they have had in Australia. Over the years only very few locals have been suitable and these were all girls coming from families with a good work ethic. Since then we have had none. It will be found that many, many growers all over the state, and no doubt the whole country, will say the same thing. The government needs to focus on these shiftless work shy young people - mostly boys - and find methods for change. Trouble is those in small town who have any get up and go have got up and left leaving those who are quite content to lounge about on government benefits. (They need some tough love and a kick up the bum.)

Added to this it is about time the government took another look at the Wwoofer situation. Now they are no longer able to get credit towards a second year visa for the days worked in a voluntary capacity the number has dropped off. We are aged 74 and 75 and work seven days a week so with the loss of wwoofers we not only miss out on the company of keen intelligent young people who are happy to learn new skills and knowledge of healthy food and living, plus comfortable accommodation and excellent meals for only four hours a day work (this in itself could be seen as paid work) it has also put a huge strain on our workload.

Those who made this decision have no idea what they are talking about. Wwoofing, in the main, is not exploitative. But that is another issue that I could write a paper. on. I have a wwoofer book with photos and comments from all the wwoofers we have had stay and I would like to submit photo copies of this to give those blinkered bureaucrats and politicians some insight into what it is all about. They apparently have not the slightest idea.

I would like to ask those who make the decision about the backpacker tax if they are prepared to come pick our fruit if we have no workers. If we get no backpackers coming we lose a year's hard work and half of our income. Not to mention the heartbreak of seeing our chemical free top quality blueberries rotting on the bushes. This loss would apply to all fruit growers over Australia. It would be far greater than the $540 million over four years that this government thought would be easy pickings.

Who is running this show anyway and what are their qualifications for doing so??

Name

Roslyn Nixon

Date Lodged

24 Aug 2016 8:31:52 AM

Are you submitting as an individual or on behalf of an organisation?

Individual

Organisation name

Country

AUSTRALIA

Written Submission

There are benefits to Australia hosting holiday makers, backpackers and WWOOF which is not reflected in your above questions. Young people or not so young travel learn about Australia, we learn from them and the cultural exchange is valuable. They are able to support small independent producers who feed into growers markets and local communities. Their earnings come into our economy through their travel and personal consumption.

Name

Mark Foan

Date Lodged

24 Aug 2016 9:19:35 AM

Are you submitting as an individual or on behalf of an organisation?

Individual

Organisation name

Country

AUSTRALIA

Written Submission

We used to use voluntary labor through the WWOOFA organization but since you prohibited volunteers from being able to access visa extensions for voluntary work it has left us with no alternative other than to work much longer hours ourselves and has pretty much made our business not viable. Not only can we not afford to employ staff in our olive business but they are just not available in remote locations as they are only required for short periods certain times of the year. Please re-instate the ability of volunteers to be eligible for visa extensions

Name

Rowan Berecry

Date Lodged

24 Aug 2016 10:20:04 AM

Are you submitting as an individual or on behalf of an organisation?

Organisation

Organisation name

The Good Rich Fruit Company

Country

AUSTRALIA

Written Submission

We are in the fruit production business. We are very reliant on backpacker labour. The business has a permanent workforce of Australian residents. This is then topped up with short term casuals/backpackers as required. This extra labour requirement varies from about 3 to 60 depending on the time of year.

Since the original announcement of the proposed tax increase every single backpacker has told us that they would not have come to Australia if the higher tax level had been in place. Many have told us of people they know that have already taken Australia off their destination list as a result of the taxation hike threat.

A massive concern for us is that our harvest will commence mid January, 2017. We will be requiring 60+ extra staff to carry out this task. If the decision on the tax review has not been made well in advance of January 1st, there will not be enough backpackers coming to Australia to meet the demand. They will have made plans and gone elsewhere prior. It is hard to believe there will be this mad rush to get to Australia once the decision is announced. These people need to plan.

As it is, over the past two seasons, it has been the day before harvest commenced, before the local employment agency has been able to fill our requirement. To make matters worse, we are going to be looking for more harvest labour next January, as our production increases.

We also urge the government to keep the taxation level in line with the Australian counterparts. For one there is the confusion when it comes to doing the wages, and secondly there is the potential for conflict within the workforce, with some taking home more money than others for doing exactly the same work, just because of tax. It is essential for us to maintain a harmonious team.

We have been using backpacker labour for the past five years. In that time we have only had one backpacker that has come to Australia to earn money to take back to their home country. They are all here to earn money to travel and see Australia. The money stays in Australia, being circulated, creating more employment. In the long run the government is not missing out on income.

The other issue we would like the review to consider is the limit of six months a backpacker can remain employed with a single operation. It often takes time to train staff up. We get them up to full competency and they have to move on. Many would like to stay for 12 months, or return for another period after travel, if it was at all possible.

Name

Keith Bannerman

Date Lodged

24 Aug 2016 12:10:37 PM

Are you submitting as an individual or on behalf of an organisation?

Individual

Organisation name

Country

AUSTRALIA

Written Submission

This pending ‘backpacker tax’ is another insane idea from politicians who seem to have no connection with the real world - backpackers are as aussie as our fresh fuit and veg — neither of which we'd have without backpackers. It is ludicrous to imagine that they export their earnings - they party it all away right here in the local economy.

Name

Lyn Booth

Date Lodged

24 Aug 2016 1:39:36 PM

Are you submitting as an individual or on behalf of an organisation?

Individual

Organisation name

Country

AUSTRALIA

Written Submission

This submission makes no reference to the changes regarding overseas travelers being able to volunteer in programs such as Helpex, WWOOF and Workabout. As a host family for more than a decade, we have in the past, been able to sign off days towards second year visas as we live in a complying rural postcode. This is no longer possible under the new laws.

Our helpers have been young people looking for a safe, family environment where they can contribute, learn the language and access information to help them on their journey. Helpers live, work and share with our family. The experience has enriched our lives, business and that of our local community. The majority of hosts in our local network are small family businesses producing chemical free food for sale in our regional area. Our businesses benefit enormously from the involvement of overseas helpers, we are too small to be able to offer paid full time employment.

Please review the decision to allow small emerging businesses such as ours the ability to sign off second year visas. Since the change all local hosts have had nearly zero interest in visitations.

When they do find paid employment our helpers spend what they earn in Australia. The overwhelming majority are shocked by the cost of food, travel and basic necessities. They work to afford the travel, sightseeing and experiences.

The backpacker tax will and already has negatively affected young people choosing to come to Australia.

Name

Prue deVries

Date Lodged

24 Aug 2016 2:11:45 PM

Are you submitting as an individual or on behalf of an organisation?

Individual

Organisation name

Country

AUSTRALIA

Written Submission

We are a small hardworking farm that up until recently and with the help of the WWOOF program WWOOFers come, stay and voluntarily assist with our crops. We are too small to pay wages but love sharing what we do with international travellers and they in turn get to see a way of life that they may not already be accustomed to. Since the inception of new Visa regulations which came into affect in 2015, backpackers looking to have their 2nd year working holiday visa signed for voluntary labour is now not possible and we are at risk of losing our farm and income as we can no longer acquire help from travellers as they are required to look for paid work to get their 2nd year WHV signed. In effect this is actually putting increasing strain on large farms who continually need to turn people away and small regional farms across Australia such as ours are suffering. The system worked incredibly well in the past for many, many years, but we are now afraid about what is to come having to ourselves look for outside full time employment away from our farm to support ourselves. Prior to the changes we had the help we needed for harvesting and managing our organic crops, but not anymore, we now hardly receive any inquiries from backpackers.

Name

Fiona Rossiter

Date Lodged

24 Aug 2016 2:26:14 PM

Are you submitting as an individual or on behalf of an organisation?

Individual

Organisation name

Country

AUSTRALIA

Written Submission

I think its a disgrace what this new government has done. We have had in excess of 300 volunteers who have come to work with us in a voluntary capacity. They've loved the time spent with us and made specific comment on how nice it was to be away from the busy hustle and bussell of the city. They have made many friendships, helped out of there own back seniors who need a hand and helped with community events.

They never ask for money because they believe the swap for accommodation and food is fair and in exchange for second year visa sign off. We have tried the new payment system once and found it very difficult to support as a small family business. Needless to say we have scrapped it and wont be using it again.

Our business has been effected by having less volunteers now and I know of many farmers and other families who are feeling the pain because we can no longer depend on 2nd year visa volunteers to come in and help us support our industry. Neither can we find the extra money to pay people when you don't have the man power or money to do it the governments way.

Our volunteers that come for short stays say how much they hate Australia for what they have done with the 2nd year visa sign off and now apparently government is making International people pay money to be here.

They tell us that there are few people who come to Australia any more. Tasmania has become the chosen place because their government does care and does give a dam!

Any way we will just potter on and watch the demise of the new government over time. It will happen because of this foolish decision to take 2nd year visa sign off away from small business owners in exchange for basic living needs.

Name

Paul Rossiter

Date Lodged

24 Aug 2016 2:37:44 PM

Are you submitting as an individual or on behalf of an organisation?

Individual

Organisation name

Country

AUSTRALIA

Written Submission

Since government took away the volunteer 2nd year visa sign off from country people using the exchange of board and meals there has been a dramatic loss to us as small business holders. We believe government have got it wrong and statistics will show the loss of International visitors now coming to rural and remote areas.

Name

Mariette Joubert

Date Lodged

24 Aug 2016 2:54:53 PM

Are you submitting as an individual or on behalf of an organisation?

Organisation

Organisation name

New Life Industries (NVA) Pty Ltd

Country

AUSTRALIA

Written Submission

Our business don't make use of backpackers at all.

Name

Jan Slee

Date Lodged

24 Aug 2016 5:30:46 PM

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Individual

Organisation name

Country

Written Submission

As an employer who takes out the 32.5% tax and pays the super to backpackers, I am amazed how many backpackers who come to work for us and who have already been working in Australia do not have a super account. When they leave immigration should be able to check that the backpackers employers have paid them correctly and paid them Super. On the other hand we would prefer a straight tax for backpackers and no super so we don't have to set them up i n the clearing house for them to only get it back, senseless. Try and streamline it. Backpackers work in the regional areas where Australians wont. We have been looking for 9 months for full time employee paying well above with all the perks.So do not let the unions say backpackers are taking jobs from Australians, because Aussies don't like working and not in reiional areas.

Name

George Mills

Date Lodged

24 Aug 2016 7:03:22 PM

Are you submitting as an individual or on behalf of an organisation?

Organisation

Organisation name

Panshanger Estate

Country

AUSTRALIA

Written Submission

As all Australians pay the same rate of tax if working for wages, why would we make back packers pay a higher rate ??

It could be argued that back packers pay a lower rate of tax to enable them to spend more in the community.

Name

Maree Harvey

Date Lodged

24 Aug 2016 8:40:08 PM

Are you submitting as an individual or on behalf of an organisation?

Organisation

Organisation name

Glenburn Orchards

Country

AUSTRALIA

Written Submission

The farmers need the pickers to ensure their crops are harvested in the best possible time frames for quality

These pickers come to our country for many reasons. Sadley thier circumstances and economic climate in their counties are worse than ours.

they allow our rural communities and business to sustain as money goes back into our town.

We need them so lets not make it less worthwhile for them. If they dont come the impact is detremental to Tasmanian agriculture and quality of the produce will suffer brecause we will not have the capacity to get the volumes of fruit off at the critical time. The quality of Tasmanian produce will suffer. This will snow ball to our alliance all around the world. We need to make it easy for them stressless.

Government needs to get a better understanding of harvest season. Stop being rigid & ignorant become realistic as to what is happening and what is needed to support agriculture in Tasmania and that is "when the fruit is ready or the weather is detrimental to the harvest we need back packer immediately or else we loose our crop and business.

Sometimes I have many backpacker wanting work I give work to them to get my crop off putting another 30 up to 120 on. they work hard & do long hours of contract work.

One season where we do not have enough picker will destroy our business finacially because of the impact on qualities and sales. Our life is hard enough agriculture is labour intensive please dont make our business not sustainable by this tax. Government needs to support agriculture.& open their ignorant eyes to what is happening on ground level and what is needed

I dont believe the unemployed would have the fitness or the will to pick and harvest like these back-packers most do not perform on the same level & leave after a short time. This change over for our business and data entry and inductions and finding replacement is huge.

This tax is a show complete ignorance by the government and will destroy the future of agricultural harvest seasons in Australia creating an impact and a ripple effect that will eventually destroy business, ruin our reputation for quality due to the fact that we are unable to harvest our produce due to lack of seasonal employees and back packers and in effect destroy our alliances and reputation within our Australian markets and export countries.

Maree Harvey