Published on Friday, 2 October 2026 at 1:44:58 PM
The Shire of Victoria Plains is calling on the Federal Government to reconsider proposed changes to Australia's Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa program, warning the reforms could have disproportionate consequences for regional Western Australia's workforce, tourism industry and local economies.
Currently, Working Holiday Makers who complete 88 days of eligible regional work qualify for a second-year visa, while those who complete a further 179 days qualify for a third-year visa. Under the proposed changes, this guaranteed pathway would be replaced by a ballot, with no guarantee of a further visa, while the number of second-year places would fall from approximately 57,000 to 45,000 and third-year places from approximately 31,000 to 5,000 nationally. The Shire is concerned this uncertainty will dissuade backpackers from undertaking regional work in the areas that rely on them most.
Backpackers play an important role in regional communities as both workers and visitors. They support local businesses, contribute approximately $360 million annually to the Western Australian economy and spend an average of $5,900 per visitor, more than twice the expenditure of many other international visitor segments.
More than 65 per cent of backpackers also begin their Australian journey in Sydney or Melbourne and often rely on subsequent visa years to travel further west and undertake regional work. Removing guaranteed access to second and third-year visas is likely to significantly impact the number of Working Holiday Makers who make it from the eastern states to Western Australia.
Industry stakeholders estimate the proposed reforms could result in approximately 4,500 fewer Working Holiday Makers in Western Australia, with concerns the real impact could be greater if travellers no longer see value in undertaking regional work when there is no guaranteed visa outcome at the end of the process. This matters for WA, where backpackers account for 8.2 per cent of international visitors, compared with 3.1 per cent nationally.
To ensure regional WA can continue accessing this important stream of workers and visitors, the Shire of Victoria Plains is calling on Federal and State Government officials to advocate for three practical actions:
- Retain guaranteed access to second and third-year visas for Working Holiday Makers who complete eligible regional work.
- Exempt regional Western Australia from future visa caps or ballot arrangements, or establish a dedicated Western Australian allocation.
- Delay implementation until a Western Australian regional impact assessment has been undertaken.
Shire President, Cr Pauline Bantock, said Western Australia has a significant stake in the outcome of the proposed reforms.
"For regional communities like ours, Working Holiday Makers are much more than tourists. They help harvest crops, support tourism operators, work in hospitality businesses, spend money in local shops and contribute to the economic resilience of our towns."
"We need a visa system that gives regional employers and communities confidence that there will be a reliable workforce available when they need it."
The Shire's Chief Executive Officer, Sean Fletcher, said the critical issue is not simply reducing visa numbers, but replacing certainty with uncertainty.
"At the moment, backpackers know that if they complete eligible regional work, they qualify for a second or third-year visa. Under the proposed reforms, they could complete months of regional work and still miss out through a ballot."
"Regional employers are asking a very practical question: why would a traveller undertake 88 days of regional work, or a further 179 days of regional employment, if completion no longer guarantees a visa outcome but merely provides entry into a ballot?
"If fewer backpackers choose regional work, workforce shortages could emerge long before any visa caps are reached."
Community members can show their support for retaining tourists and Working Holiday Makers in Australia by signing the Tourism Council WA campaign petition at: www.change.org/p/protect-working-holiday-maker-backpacker-visas-in-australia
ENDS
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