The introduction of the new agricultural visa to help NSW farmers account for labour shortages is hoped to make up for the changes to working holiday visas.
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Under the free-trade agreement, Australia agreed to scrap requirements for UK backpackers to pick fruit in order to extend their visas, and is making up for the possible deficit in labour by introducing the agricultural visa for the UK and 10 south-east Asian countries.
It's estimated that the visa change could reduce the seasonal workforce by up to 10,000 people.
Countries being offered the visa include Thailand, Cambodia, Brunei, Myanmar, Philippines, Malaysia, Laos, Vietnam, Singapore and Indonesia, before it will be extended back to the UK later.
The finalities of the deal are yet to be certified in parliament, however the 'in-principle' deal between Australia and the UK was settled earlier in the week.
NSW Farmers president James Jackson described the deal as a big win, saying that they'd been pushing for a dedicated agriculture visa for a long time.
Having a dedicated visa, we can get specific skills as well as casual labour
- James Jackson
"The problem with the 88 days is that people weren't dedicated to it. They were just doing it to get the extra year on their visa. Having a dedicated visa, we can get specific skills as well as casual labour," he said.
Mr Jackson said losing the requirement for UK backpackers was an obvious downside, but that the nature of the deal meant that it would solve problems faster than waiting for backpacking to re-open.
"Our horticultural industries have been suffering from a lack of workers ever since the borders closed ... this is certainly going to be more immediate access to labour than the reopening of the backpacker game."
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Jason Menegazzo from Indigo Farms agreed, saying that while they didn't use backpackers much, it sounded like a good idea.
"We have in the past, but most of our stuff is mechanised and I don't think we've ever had English backpackers - we've mostly had Italians and French and they've been fantastic. It's all positive really, it's the same hands," he said.
"Plus, it'll help in their countries to send the money back home. I'm fully in support if it's a reciprocal thing."
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