Australia says easing of rules has led to surge in British visitor numbers, putting pressure on local workforce
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The Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has told Andy Burnham he is looking at changing rules for British backpackers in Australia, after an increase in the number of travellers visiting popular hotspots such as Sydney.
Albanese, who met Burnham on Monday evening at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting (Chogm) in the Caribbean, told reporters he wanted to discuss changing the agreement between the UK and Australia that removes a regional work requirement for British travellers.
Backpackers had previously been required to do about three months of regional work as part of visa conditions to help with the country’s work shortages in some occupations. But under the free trade agreement signed under Boris Johnson, Britons do not have to undertake the rural work that many other nationalities do as a condition of their visas. It also extended the maximum period for the visa to three years and the age limit to 35.
The Australian government has said the changes have led to traveller numbers more than doubling, from 40,000 two years ago to 87,000 last year, the majority concentrated in Sydney and beachside suburbs. The easing of visa restrictions also applies to Australians coming to the UK but fewer than 10,000 came last year.
Albanese told the Australian parliament that the numbers of Britons arriving to a small destination was putting pressure on the local workforce. “They are staying at Bondi Beach or Coogee or around particularly the capital cities and working in hospitality there. That’s placing enormous pressure because it’s distorting the labour market in these areas as well,” he said.
Burnham confirmed to reporters that he was meeting Albanese but declined to comment on any potential changes, saying “we’ll see” when asked if it would be on the agenda.
A Downing Street spokesperson said there had been discussions about the visas at a bilateral between the two leaders in Antigua at the summit but stopped short of making any commitments.
“The leaders discussed the increasingly uncertain global landscape and agreed that strong partnerships between close allies like the UK and Australia are more important than ever,” a readout of the meeting said.
“Turning to the close relationship between the UK and Australia, the leaders underlined the importance of ensuring opportunities for young people both at home and abroad. On broader migration, the prime minister updated on the new rules being rolled out for migrants looking to settle in the UK, and the leaders discussed how best to drive down illegal migration.
“They both looked forward to continuing their discussions during Chogm and staying in close contact.”
