Monday 28 September 2026

The Albanese Labor Government is once again playing politics with migration, shutting the gate on the seasonal workers regional Australia desperately needs while quietly creating new pathways to permanent settlement for people who arrived unlawfully by boat, Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster said today.

Dr Webster said recent revelations that more than 30,000 Resolution of Status visas had now been granted - far exceeding the Government's original estimate of around 19,000 eligible recipients -  raised serious questions about Labor's migration priorities.

"Labor claims it is trying to get net overseas migration under control, but when it comes to regional Australia, the Albanese Labor Government has been shutting down farmers, harvest contractors and the industries that keep food on Australian tables," Dr Webster said.

"Farmers across Mallee have spent months watching Labor deliberately slow down Working Holiday Maker visa processing, leaving experienced harvest workers stranded overseas while crops sit in paddocks waiting to come off.

"At the same time, Labor has quietly prioritised processing tens of thousands of permanent visas for people who arrived illegally during the Rudd-Gillard era.

"Regional Australians are entitled to ask: how does this help us feed and clothe the nation, and ensure our economies remain viable?"

Dr Webster said The Nationals had consistently supported lower, sustainable migration levels tied to Australia's capacity to provide housing and infrastructure.

"But the answer to Labor's migration mess was never to pull the rug out from under farmers preparing for harvest," she said.

"Labor thought it was being clever by fiddling around with Working Holiday Maker visa processing timelines and future visa caps so it could improve its headline migration numbers. Labor has created uncertainty, workforce shortages and serious safety concerns at harvest.”

Dr Webster said employers across Mallee had repeatedly explained that Working Holiday Makers were not easily replaceable.

"These are not random inexperienced backpackers. Many return year after year from countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland. They know the farms, the harvest and how to safely operate multimillion-dollar agricultural machinery.

"Farmers tell me that Working Holiday Makers can account for as much as 50 per cent of their harvest workforce. Without them, crops are left vulnerable, workloads increase and safety risks escalate."

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke recently announced future Working Holiday Maker caps of 45,000 second-year visas and just 5,000 third-year visas, compared with approximately 57,000 second-year and 31,000 third-year visa holders in the last reporting year.

Dr Webster said Labor's message is crystal clear: If you want to come to Australia and work a harvest, operate a harvester, drive a truck or help produce the nation's food and fibre, Labor puts obstacles in your way.

"But if you came illegally by boat to our shores, under Labor the system can move very quickly indeed," Dr Webster said.

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