Australia may soon impose tax on working holiday-makers

Experts in Australia's Queensland tourism and agriculture sectors say uncertainty around the federal government's proposed backpacker tax is scaring away the working holiday-makers.

Travellers currently working in Queensland have told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Thursday that they would stay clear away from Australia if the tax for backpackers were to be imposed.

The proposal to tax those on working holiday visas 32 cents in every dollar earned was flagged in this year's budget but was delayed as it is subject to a parliamentary review.

Central Queensland pineapple grower Ben Clifton said he relied on backpacker workers and was concerned that he will not have access to the quality of staff once the tax ruling was imposed on working holiday makers.

"We can go up to anywhere up 15 to 20 backpackers during the peak harvesting season," Clifton said.

"We've had a lot of success with our backpackers over the years, we usually find if they've got enough get-up-and-go to come out here and be looking for work, they want to do the work, get the money so they can further their travels," he said.

He said they relied on local staff for core business operations and hired backpackers when short-term extra staff was needed.

Swaziland visitor Ben Vincent, 27, who is on a working holiday visa, said he would have travelled to another country once the backpacker tax came into effect.

"If I had heard coming here and working here I would get nailed for 30 percent of my wage, I probably would have chosen Canada," Vincent said.

A spokesperson for the Assistant Minister for Agriculture, who is managing the review told the ABC that the concerns were being considered before a final decision on the law is due in October.Enditem