House debates Questions without Notice
Working Holiday Maker Program
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister
2:37 pm
Barron Valley Hotel. If that was the group that I think the member for Kennedy came—it might have been the same group. Is that right, Member for Capricornia? If it's a group that I've met with—I'm not certain that it is, but, if it is, I met with them during the last parliamentary sitting week, and what they did was put forward very constructively the work that they do. They do fantastic work. They have accommodation there for people working on bananas and avocados in particular. They spoke about the great benefit that we had. What I did was have a very constructive discussion with them about the changes that were proposed and ways in which we could make sure that that workforce was looked after. I must say that the couple who were there were delightful, hardworking Australians who are making a big difference in that part of regional Australia.
One of the things that I spoke to them about was the UK free trade agreement and the impact that it has had, because, at the moment, unlike backpackers from other areas of the world, who have to spend time in regional Australia, those UK backpackers are arriving in very large numbers, much greater than they were previously to that arrangement being in place, and they are staying at Bondi Beach or Coogee or around particularly the capital cities and working in hospitality there. That's placing enormous pressure because it's distorting the labour market in these areas as well. That's just one of the areas in which we'll put forward changes. That requires discussions, and I'll be meeting with Prime Minister Andy Burnham. It's one of the issues which I committed to the publicans to raise with the Prime Minister of the UK. It's something I've raised with him informally as well. We know that it's very important to deal with these issues, and that's why I've been prepared to meet with these small businesses and engage with them constructively in order to provide assistance.
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