General News
6 October, 2026
Working visa ‘concerns’
BUSINESS leaders have united in urging the federal government to reconsider proposed changes to the working holiday-maker visa program, warning that these changes are already creating uncertainty across the region’s workforce.
Tourism Tropical North Queensland CEO Mark Olsen said that more than 5000 working holiday-makers were employed across hospitality, tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, labour hire and aged care in Tropical North Queensland during peak periods.
“These changes are already seeing people pack their bags and leave Tropical North Queensland,” he said.
Mr Olsen said the group wanted the federal government to withdraw the proposed ballot for second and third-year working holiday visas and to consult with regional industries about the impact.
Crystalbrook Collection Hotels and Resorts CEO Geoff York said that working holiday-makers made up to 45% of the workforce across the company’s three Cairns hotels during the high season.
“We would have, depending on the season, close to 500 people with us across our three hotels here in Cairns,” he said.
“Take 45% of that. We’ve got something over 220 people on a working holiday visa.”
Mr York said some second-year working holiday-makers had already left rather than risk completing another six months of regional work without certainty of obtaining a third-year visa. He warned that staff shortages could eventually force hotels to restrict capacity.
FNQ Growers Association chairman Joe Moro said the agricultural sector directly employed about 15,000 people in Far North Queensland, with roughly one-third of them working holiday-makers.
“There are a lot of locals that want to work in our industry, but generally younger people,” he said. “So the short answer is yes, there’ll be interest, but it won’t be near enough to fill that gap.”
Cairns Chamber of Commerce CEO Patricia O’Neill said working holiday-makers were also employed in construction, marketing, accounting and bookkeeping.
“You know there is a migration problem. We all accept that, but to target working holiday-makers who are the lifeblood of regional economies is not the best way in which to go about it,” she said. Ms O’Neill called for policies that incentivised working holiday-makers to move from capital cities into regional Australia, while industry representatives called for further consultation before the proposed changes proceed.
Mayor Amy Eden said for Cairns, working holiday-makers were more than visitors.
“They are workers, customers and contributors to our regional economy,” she said.
“The federal government’s announced changes to second and third-year working holiday-maker visas risk weakening the incentive that encourages these young international visitors to leave the capital cities and spend months working, living and travelling in regional Australia.”
“I have written to Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke asking that an earned pathway be retained for working holiday-makers who complete the required specified work in Northern Australia”.
