The Albanese Labor government strongly supports a tailored and targeted migration system. We are making changes to the system to give us more control over who arrives, who stays and who leaves. I've been speaking with relevant ministerial colleagues about the concerns being raised by the tourism and agricultural sector in my electorate of Solomon—Darwin and Palmerston—around working holiday makers. I met recently with the MEC NT Electrical Contractors team. They, too, reinforced the importance of the working holiday maker cohort and the opportunity to tap into a skilled workforce who want to stay in the Territory longer. I've been speaking with some of our major hostels in Darwin—Deb from Youth Shack Backpackers and Stratton from MoM Darwin, a backpacker hostel on Mitchell Street—about the impact of the recently announced changes.

Similarly, a constituent wrote to me about their personal experience of arriving in Darwin from Ireland as a backpacker in 2011, planning to be working holiday maker. Like many, they intended to stay only a few weeks during the dry season before continuing their travels, but during that time they secured employment in the hospitality sector and were later offered employer sponsorship. That opportunity changed the course of their life and is the sole reason they are still living and thriving in Darwin today. Fifteen years later, they have built a career in the Territory, purchased their own home, started a family and are contributing extensively to community life through volunteer work.

Just last week, I got my hair cut at Diamond Barbers, who always do a great job, and my barber was—you guessed it, Deputy Speaker Sharkie—once a working holiday maker. I attended the 50th anniversary of Amity Community Services recently. Some of those counsellors had studied—

A division having been called in the House of Representatives—

Sitting suspended at 10:09

Federation Chamber adjourned at 17:00 upon the adjournment

of the House, in accordance with standing order 190(c)