Backpacker tax should be taken off the agenda


17 May 2016

Tasmania’s peak farming organisation has welcomed the news that the Federal Government will conduct a review into the planned backpacker tax, which would have seen working backpackers paying 32.5 per cent tax from July 1.

But, according to the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association’s CEO Peter Skillern, the State’s farmers would ultimately like to see the issue taken off the agenda.

“Many Tasmanian rural enterprises rely on international workers to fill their short-term labour needs. A tax of this magnitude would ensure that we were not competitive in an international sense,’’ Mr Skillern said.

The TFGA will work with industry stakeholders to ensure that the review takes into account the views and requirements of the Tasmanian agricultural industry.