News the introduction of the backpacker tax will be delayed by 12 months has been broadly welcomed by industry groups, but some say it still does not go far enough to address the root of the problem.
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The National Farmers Federation has fought long and hard to have the tax scrapped, with an online petition opposing the measure attracting 48,000 signatures.
The government’s plan to remove the tax-free threshold and increase the amount of tax paid by workers who come to Australia under the Working Holiday Maker program has been broadly criticised by the agriculture industry and tourism operators.
Now, with the announcement that its introduction will be delayed by six months until January 1, pending the outcome of yet another government review, they say it still fails to provide the nation’s farmers with any certainty moving forward.
Heading into a federal election, The Nationals are claiming this latest delay as another win for “team bush” but – credit where credit is due – both the farmers and tourism groups have run a pretty hard and fast campaign against the tax and now finally they have something to show for it, even if it ends up being short -ived.
The tax will be assessed as part of a broader review of the workforce shortage faced by the agriculture and tourism industries and it could still be introduced.
Growers remain steadfast though in their belief, that if the tax is brought in it will have a “crippling impact” on their industry.
The body representing more than 9000 Australian vegetable growers (AUSVEG) says if the ongoing decline in backpackers visiting Australia is not arrested – growers face a very bleak outlook indeed.
A report is due to be delivered to the minister for agriculture by October 14.
What it will deliver for farmers and tourism operators at the end of the road remains to be seen, but isn’t it about time the government showed some backbone on this matter?
