Emigrating to Australia: farmers support backpackers
22 November 2016 by News DeskEmigrating to Australia: A delegation of farmers and growers are travelling to Canberra to protest at ongoing backpacker tax uncertainty.
Emigrating to Australia: farmers and their representatives will descend on the Aussie Parliament to demand their concerns are heard after what they say is a lack of interest from parliamentary decision makers to meet with them.
Government plans to change the rules relating to working holiday visas and the amount of tax they must pay on earnings have left farmers fuming as the industry relies on backpackers each year to meet acute labour shortages.
Tony Mahar CEO of the National Farmers’ Federation told reporters: “The message to the politicians is simple – throwing your hands up and saying ‘we’ve done all we can do’ is not good enough.
“Please stop the buck passing and compromise on a tax that is fair and reasonable.”
Emigrating to Australia: farmers support backpackers
The NFF believes that working holiday taxation should represent a rate that attracts backpackers and is comparable to the rates paid to Australian workers.
Farmers have proposed a tax rate of 15% to 19%, or lower. They say warring politicians have created a deadlock that is damaging the Australian farming industry.
“The government sees the tax as a budget fix measure while the Opposition see it as a political weapon. But it’s actually about real people, real jobs and real communities,” said Tony Mahar.
“This uncertainty is hurting our businesses now and it is causing pain and anxiety in families and communities,” said Brett Guthrey, one of Australia’s 135,000 farmers.
“Even if an outcome is reached this week, damage has been done. Attracting backpackers back to our industry will be difficult for many seasons to come”
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