Why are Australian farms worried about the working holiday changes?

News · 2026-09-25 · 3 min read

Australian farms are getting ready for a busy harvest. But they are worried. The government has announced big changes to the Working Holiday Maker visa. This visa lets young travellers live and work in Australia for a time. Let us look at what is changing, in plain words.

The old way and the new way

Before, a worker who did 88 days of regional or remote work could ask for a second-year visa. They could expect to get it. Now it works like a lottery. This is called a ballot. Names are drawn, and not everyone wins.

The number of places is also smaller. Second-year places go down from 57,000 to 45,000. Third-year places fall much more, from 31,000 to just 5,000.

Why does this matter for farms?

Farms need many hands for a short time. Workers pick mangoes, berries and citrus. Many farmers plan their harvest around workers who come back for a second year. With a ballot, they cannot be sure who will return.

Large farms often use the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme, called PALM. It is a different, more organised pathway. Those workers usually stay in longer placements. Small family farms are different. They do not have work all year, so they often rely on working holiday travellers. These travellers can move quickly from one region to the next.

Waiting times are long too

Applications from 24 of 29 eligible countries were already paused before this news. Processing now takes roughly three months. Before, it often took only days. Some harvests start in a few weeks, so farms may not have enough workers.

One piece of good news

Agriculture will be added to Australia's skilled worker visa list. Industry groups are happy about this. But they still want more detail. They ask if horticulture jobs will be included. They also ask what qualifications may be needed.

What can you do?

Do not count on a second or third year. Plan for the first year.
Keep good records of every job you do, with dates.
Read the official Department of Home Affairs website for the latest rules.
Be careful with offers. Deal only with licensed organisations and real employers. Never pay an unlicensed broker, and be careful with anyone who asks for money upfront to secure a job or a visa.

Final thought

These changes are big, but they do not close every door. If you have farm skills or a trade, keep learning and keep your documents ready. Watch the news about the skilled visa list, because it may open a new step for workers in agriculture.

#harvest #working holiday visa #australia #farm work #palm scheme