World news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Australia weighs restoring regional work rules for British backpackers
Australia is considering revising its deal with the UK so British backpackers may once again have to work in regional areas to extend their stays. Regional businesses say fewer British visitors are coming to places such as Cairns, adding to concerns about labour shortages, while many backpackers are settling in Sydney instead.
The 2023 trade deal exempted Britons from the regional-work requirement and raised the visa age limit from 30 to 35. British working holiday visas rose from 47,200 in 2023-24 to just over 77,000 in 2025-26; they accounted for almost a quarter of the 323,000 backpacker visas issued last year. Australia’s prime minister, Anthony Albanese, says he has discussed changes with UK counterpart Andy Burnham, while farmers note that worker shortages extend beyond the UK arrangement.
In short
- Australia may restore regional work rules for British backpackers.
- British working holiday visas rose to over 77,000.
- Regional employers say they need more workers.
Explained simply
Australia’s working holiday visa lets young people travel around the country while taking temporary jobs. Before a 2023 deal between Australia and the UK, British visitors generally had to complete specified work in regional areas, such as farm work, to qualify for a longer stay.
The deal removed that requirement for Britons and raised the age limit for applying from 30 to 35. Australia’s government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, is discussing whether to change the arrangement with the UK government, whose prime minister is Andy Burnham.
Regional employers, including businesses around Cairns, rely on temporary workers and say shortages are affecting their ability to find staff. The debate matters to backpackers planning longer stays, as well as to employers and communities that depend on seasonal labour.
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by BBC World as “Why does Australia want Brits to swap Sydney for the outback?”.