The campaign to encourage the Federal Government not to proceed with the proposed ‘backpacker tax’ is well and truly in full swing. Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) has been working with its industry membership organisations, in particular Cotton Australia and Growcom, as well as the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) to prosecute the case for the Federal Government to abandon the proposed 32.5 per cent tax rate on backpackers working in Australia.
The proposed July 1, 2016 change has resulted in thousands of concerned citizens from around the country adding their name to a petition. The groundswell of opposition to this tax hike is unsurprising considering the impact it will have on regional industries and communities that rely on backpacker labour.
As it stands the backpacker industry is worth $3.5 billion to the Australian economy with approx. 40,000 finding employment on Australian farms every year. The impact of a declining working backpacker population on Queensland agriculture, tourism and regional communities will cause losses far greater than any expected revenue raising the government hopes to achieve with this blatant tax grab.
The Federal government is showing poor judgement by proposing changes that will undermine the future of cotton, fruit and vegetable industries in Queensland. All this could have been avoided if the Government had simply sat down and listened to industry. It is disappointing that the Government has instead viewed backpackers as cash cows for a tax revenue rather than considering their value to our industry.
QFF will continue to work with its member organisations and the broader Queensland regional community in fighting this ill-considered tax hike on backpackers. We cannot allow the current lose-lose-lose situation where the backpackers stop coming, the growers and farmers are affected and the local rural economies are put in unnecessary jeopardy.
We encourage you to join the campaign by adding your name to the online petition and contacting your local Coalition federal MP. – STUART ARMITAGE, QFF PRESIDENT