10 September 2026
Delays in Working Holiday Maker visa applications must be urgently resolved by the Federal Government.
That’s the view of NSW Farmers, who have warned that workforce uncertainty will leave farmers across NSW without the workers they need at critical points in the season, including the upcoming harvest.
Working Holiday Makers are among Australia’s most valuable visitors, injecting over $3 billion into the national economy and more than $700 million into the regions each year.
NSW Farmers President Rebecca Reardon travelled to Canberra with a cross-industry group, including Nationals Farmers Federation, Tourism and Transport Forum, Accommodation Australia, and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who are calling for current Working Holiday Maker visa settings to be retained and applications to be processed in a timely manner.
NSW Farmers has also joined over 20 industry organisations in writing to the Prime Minister to raise concerns about the issue.
As Ms Reardon explains, farmers cannot afford uncertainty over a workforce pathway the agriculture industry heavily relies on.
“Farmers plan their workforce needs months in advance, and they need confidence the workers they have lined up will actually be able to be here when they are needed,” Ms Reardon said.
“Right now, there are grain growers preparing for harvest who have already made arrangements with international workers, but delays in visa processing are putting those plans at risk.
“That uncertainty puts enormous pressure on farming businesses at precisely the time they need certainty most.”
“A crop won’t wait because a visa application is sitting in a queue. When harvest arrives, farmers need workers on the ground and ready to go. Working Holiday Makers make up around 44 per cent of the horticulture peak harvest workforce. Without them, crops go unharvested and food prices rise.”
Benefits beyond farm gate
The contribution of Working Holiday Makers extends well beyond the farm gate, supporting small businesses and jobs across country towns.
As Ms Reardon explains, the ongoing uncertainty has consequences not only for farmers, but for the regional communities that rely on agriculture and the economic activity it generates.
“Working Holiday Makers stay in regional towns and spend money with accommodation providers, retailers, pubs, cafes and other local businesses, so any reduction in their numbers flows through regional economies.”
Ms Reardon said the Federal Government must be transparent about its intentions for the WHM program and ensure processing delays were not being used to restrict participation.
“For many small and highly seasonal farming operations, there simply isn’t a like-for-like alternative.
“If the Government wants to change the Working Holiday Maker program, it needs to say so and genuinely consult with the farmers and regional businesses that rely on it.
“Our message from Canberra today is simple: we must retain the current settings, get visa applications moving again and administer the program according to genuine demand.
“Workforce certainty isn’t just an immigration issue for farmers, it’s a food security issue for everyone – and determines whether we can get Australian food and fibre off the farm into the hands of consumers.”
