Visa pause threatens farm harvest as worker shortages mount
The government has paused working holiday visas from 24 countries. Farms now face a shortage of harvest workers.
The Albanese government has paused working holiday visa applications from 24 of 29 countries and introduced a new priority system that delayed approvals. Farmers are scrambling ahead of harvest season.
Victorian contractor Matt Bourke said not one working holiday visa had been approved yet. About 60 to 70 per cent of his usual overseas workers are still waiting.
Matt Bourke needs to hire 30 staff within weeks for the grain harvest. The National Farmers Federation estimates overseas workers make up about half of Australia's peak harvest casual workforce.
The government made these changes to cut net overseas migration. But the timing is bad for farms.
Farms doing fruit packing, grain harvesting and other seasonal work now lack workers. In the Northern Territory, mango packing operations are still recruiting just weeks before harvest begins.
- 24 of 29 countries
- Visas paused from
- 30 within weeks
- Staff needed by Bourke
- 60 to 70 per cent
- Bourke's workers still waiting
- 206,187 as of June 30, 2025
- Working holiday-makers in Australia
Why it mattersIf farms cannot find enough workers, Australia's harvest could be delayed or disrupted, pushing prices for fruit and vegetables higher for shoppers and reducing farmer income.
AustraliaAustralian farmers across multiple states are unable to fill seasonal harvest roles with overseas workers, risking crop losses and higher prices for Australian consumers.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 9 d ago
