Visa change allows backpackers to contribute to bushfire recovery as part of working holiday

as part of their working holiday visa eligibility following changes announced by the Morrison government.

To be eligible for a second year-long working holiday visa, backpackers must complete three months of work in a designated area of northern or regional Australia. For a third year, they must prove an extra six months of regional work.The changes, which will be announced in regional Victoria on Monday, will now also allow backpackers in disaster zones to stay with the same employer for a year instead of six months.

“It means working holidaymakers can help rebuild homes, fences and farms, they can get onto properties and help with demolition, land clearing, and repairing dams, roads and railways.”Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham also said the changes would mean more people living and working in rural towns, spending their money at local businesses hit hard by the drop in tourism.

I was asked by Backpackers how they could help during the fires. Strong motivated workforce that wants to help. Also need protections.

How about we see our political elites break a sweat helping. After all, they have a lot of holidays where they could actually do some work.

Gunninho Briggs PeterDutton_MP Isn’t there a perfectly good Sri Lankan family being held in Xmas island whom were fully entrenched in Australian community that could help yet you decided to keep them isolated 🤔 now we give backpackers visa extensions to help wakeupmuppet

SBS Let's hope there is proper ppe and training on semi skilled work like in the picture shown. We don't want a Pink Batts issue.

PM never misses an opportunity to exploit....how good is HE?..

this is outrageous ! importing cheap labour rather than pay local fencers and support local businesses. Where will the materials come from, which Lib Nat Crony will benefit. This smells bad. Opening up backpacker visas to more exploitation auspol

Bloody disgusting, this government doesn’t want to pay for anything. Young people coming out here need to be paid something for their work.

Will they have adequate insurance cover ? Remembering Josh Park.

You mean cheap labour , no award rates and when they get sick from exposure to toxins, they will be long gone. Is it just me but I smell DisasterCapitalism in the making as Morrison outsources recon to BCAcomau . sallymcmanus , any ideas ? How does this benefit our workers?

Ah dont we have a bunch of Aussies here already on the dole looking for work. Use them to do it, pay them some more and make it so for 6 months after they helped that they wont be forced into looking for work or lose their payments as they seek work elsewhere.

That’s this govt for you.. Once again laying the work in the hands of others.. First it was other people’s money.. Now it’s other people’s labour..

there is what is called the kickback zone on a chainsaw and you can cut yourself in half so you better issue two visas.

this is forestry vandalism this shot and I don't know why SBS you have used it under this heading. AND another thing little sweaty bums you need to be trained to use one of these chainsaws they are dangerous.

jamesphilby kompetenstrappan

So who is going to ensure there are no exposure to hazardous materials form these fires remnants for the backpacker rebuilding brigade? Only fully qualified people should be used . sallymcmanus Auspol

Sounds like a back door into Australia! Who would police this on the ground? Bring on backpackers I love them but I’m not sure it would work ! I suppose Dutton could pick and choose...

The small communities I'm sure will welcome this temp workforce. Also bring a boost while the tourism is down in those areas.

This is dull.. pitching it as extra tourism dollars in fire ravaged communities.. but they are 'working' backpackers.. the spin from ScottyfromMarketing is on another level these days..

How goods slave labour!

Ah, international slave labour... just like they did to my grandparents.

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