A young Spanish woman studying hospitality in Sydney became tearful while criticising the Albanese government’s planned visa reforms, saying they could prevent temporary migrants from remaining in Australia despite paying fees and taxes. She argued that migrants fill needed jobs and contribute to the economy, while a friend said working holidaymakers often undertake rural and farm work that Australian workers may not want.

The reforms would introduce a ballot for second-year working holiday visas, reducing available places to 45,000 from roughly 57,000 eligible applicants last year, while third-year visas would have only 5,000 places, down from about 31,000 eligible applicants. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke defended the broader changes, warning that cutting migration too sharply could harm the economy, while the women said the new system was unfair and likely to prompt complaints from international workers.