Media Release | 17 September 2026
Lachlan Hunter MLA
Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Food
Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Food Lachlan Hunter MP says the Albanese Government has admitted its Working Holiday Maker visa policy was flawed, but WA farmers remain none the wiser about when much-needed workers will actually reach farm gates.
Mr Hunter said, while Immigration Minister Tony Burke had announced an end to the Government’s visa processing slowdown, the announcement failed to provide any timeline or certainty for farmers preparing for harvest.
“Tony Burke says the go-slow is over. Fine. Now tell farmers when their workers are coming,” Mr Hunter said.
“Ending the go-slow means very little if farmers still cannot get a clear answer on when workers will arrive. Harvest won’t wait for bureaucracy. When a crop is ready to come off, workers need to be there.”
Mr Hunter said the Government’s decision to prioritise agriculture and fisheries in skilled visa processing was a positive step, but it did not address the sector’s ongoing reliance on Working Holiday Makers.
“A grain grower who needs additional workers for six or eight weeks during harvest doesn’t necessarily need a permanent skilled migrant. They need access to a flexible seasonal workforce when the work is available,” he said.
Mr Hunter said the proposed ballot system for subsequent Working Holiday Maker visas would create further uncertainty for farmers trying to plan their workforce months in advance.
“Australian farmers are world-class at managing risk. Every season they navigate global market pressures, economic uncertainty and climate challenges,” he said.
“What they cannot manage is the unnecessary risk created by poor government policy. Changing the rules without providing certainty about when workers will arrive makes it harder for farmers to plan and operate their businesses.”
Mr Hunter said Premier Roger Cook and Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis had a responsibility to hold their federal Labor counterparts accountable.
“WA farmers cannot harvest crops with ministerial assurances and press releases. If Tony Burke says the bottleneck has been fixed, then the Cook Government must stop accepting vague assurances and start demanding a clear timeline. Farmers deserve to know when these workers will actually arrive, because harvest won’t wait,” Mr Hunter said.
“Julie Collins and Tony Burke should not leave Canberra until Australian farmers have a clear answer about when they can expect their workforce to arrive.”
ENDS
