Tasmania’s tourism leaders are pushing for an urgent fix to visa regulations that are preventing working holiday makers from filling critical staff shortages in key tourist destinations across the state.
The Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania has highlighted what it calls an ‘outdated postcode loophole’ that arbitrarily determines which regional areas qualify as ‘remote enough’ for second and third-year working holiday visa holders.
TICT CEO Amy Hills said tourism-dependent regions like Cradle Mountain and parts of Tasmania’s East Coast are being excluded despite their obvious remoteness.
“Anyone who thinks that Cradle Mountain isn’t remote clearly hasn’t been to Cradle Mountain,” Hills said.
“[Working holiday makers] love working with local businesses and working in these incredible areas, but if they’ve been in Australia for more than a year, they can’t work.”
East Coast Tasmania Tourism CEO Damian Mather said the issue has created bizarre inconsistencies between neighbouring communities.
“While Coles Bay is eligible for a WHM to apply for second and third Work and Holiday subclass 462 visa, Swansea is excluded from the same opportunity,” Mather said.
He says it leaves local employers struggling to fill roles and hold on to good staff.
Industry bodies say operators in affected areas are being forced to turn away willing workers during peak seasons, simply because their business falls within the wrong postcode.
The industry body is calling on both major political parties to address the inconsistency.
“Fixing this issue is an absolute no-brainer, it won’t cost taxpayers a cent and it would help regional businesses in Tasmania,” Hills said.
“It’s time for the major parties to step up and commit to sorting this mess out.”
