The Australian Greens have announced that they oppose the so-called “backpacker tax” (ie removing the tax-free threshold for overseas working holidaymakers in Australia with effect from 1 July 2016), saying it would unfairly impact on farmers and growers. Australian Greens spokesperson on Agriculture Senator Rachel Siewert said that “growers rely on working holiday makers for key seasonal work, such workers will go elsewhere instead of Australia adversely affecting our farming sector. No one wins with the backpacker tax, farmers and growers need to attract workers and it serves as an disincentive to backpackers to work in the agricultural sector.” Peak farming organisations reject this tax, as do the Greens, the Senator said.
[Greens Announcement] [LTN 92, 16/5/16]