THE HON DAVID LITTLEPROUD MP
Shadow Minister for Emergency Management
Shadow Minister for Tourism
Federal Member for Maranoa
15 August 2026
LABOR’S BORDER CHAOS NOW THREATENS TO GUT REGIONAL AUSTRALIA
Shadow Minister for Tourism David Littleproud says the Albanese Government’s quiet decision to pause working holidaymaker visa applications from 24 countries is proof it has lost control of the migration system, and is now scrambling to catch up at the expense of regional Australia.
Mr Littleproud said the Government had let net migration blow out to 1.4 million people since coming to office, and instead of targeting the areas actually putting pressure on housing, infrastructure and services, it was now taking a sledgehammer to a visa program regional tourism and agriculture depend on.
“This Government has completely lost control of our borders, and now they’re panicking and slashing in all the wrong places,” Mr Littleproud said.
“Working holidaymakers aren’t the ones putting pressure on housing, infrastructure and services in our cities. Backpackers keep regional pubs, farms and tourism operators running through the peak season, and this is not the area the Government should be targeting.”
Mr Littleproud said the pause, introduced without notice and just weeks after annual visa caps reset, would smash a tourism industry already under pressure.
“Regional tourism operators rely on backpackers arriving in time for the summer season. Cutting off that pipeline with no warning and no consultation will leave businesses short-staffed right when they need workers most.”
Mr Littleproud said the sector deserved certainty, not policy made on the run.
“Industry needs proper consultation and certainty so they can actually plan their workforce. Instead, they’ve been left to find out through migration agents that the rules have changed overnight.”
Mr Littleproud said regional Australia would bear the brunt of the Government’s confusion.
“When Canberra fumbles migration policy, it’s always the regions that pay the price. If this pause continues without a clear plan, regional communities that rely on this workforce will be decimated.”
Mr Littleproud called on the Government to immediately clarify its intentions for the working holidaymaker program and consult directly with tourism and agricultural bodies before making any further changes.
“Labor needs to come clean on what it’s actually planning here. Regional tourism can’t run on guesswork.”
