Stakeholders urged to have their say on Backpacker Tax review

Face-to-face public consultations regarding the impact of proposed changes to the `Backpacker Tax’ will be heard in Hobart on September 5, but today is the closing day for submissions, so I urge concerned stakeholders to have their say.

Tasmania has been included in the program of face-to-face consultations following our representations to the Australian Government.

We welcome the review and the public consultations. The Tasmanian horticulture sector contributes over $345 million (2014-15) in farm gate value to the Tasmanian economy and is an important and growing contributor to the State’s regional employment, tourism and the overall Tasmanian brand.

Tasmanian perennial horticultural enterprises such as cherries and berry fruits are in an expansion phase. As an example, one industry grower alone exports to 20 countries and employs a permanent workforce of 20 staff. This workforce swells to 600 from December to February during the peak harvest time for cherries.

Similarly, the Tasmanian tourism sector, which is experiencing record visitor numbers and growth, is heavily reliant on seasonal workers.

That’s why we have expressed our concerns to the Federal Government not to risk the competiveness of Tasmania’s vital horticulture, agriculture and tourism sectors.
For more information: http://www.agriculture.gov.au/ag-farm-food/working-holiday-maker-review
Jeremy Rockliff, Minister for Primary Industries and Water