Kennedy MP, Bob Katter, was in the Douglas Shire over the weekend with Katter’s Australian Party candidate for Cook, Tanika Parker, touring the Far North to see how local communities are faring.

In the past, many industries across the Far North have relied on backpackers to fill jobs and with backpacker numbers dwindling, Mr Katter is backing a proposal that would incentivise school leavers and university students into completing an 18-month gap year of work in essential industries that are experiencing worker shortages, such as, fruit picking, tourism, hospitality, meat processing, butchers, and mining.

Mr Katter has written to the Federal Employment Minister and Treasurer advocating that the Government subsidise a small portion of gap year workers’ wages, and that gap year participants receive a $20,000 benefit through a forced savings plan.

“The Government’s response to Covid-19, whether good or bad, has left us with a serious lack of willing-workers in North Queensland which is impacting industries that hold our communities together,” he said.  

 Mr Katter said there are currently around 70,000 backpackers in Australia, many south of the Queensland border, down from the typical 140,000 from this time last year, with an estimated 1000 heading back to their home countries per week.

“Under normal circumstances, the backpackers comprise 50 per cent of the fruit-pickers in North Queensland which is a region that produces 20 per cent of Australia’s fruit and vegetable supply. But due to border closures, the number of backpackers available is dwindling by the week.

He added the scheme would help not only entice young locals into these industries but would also help operators fill jobs and pay wages.

Mr Katter’s calls follow a federal parliamentary inquiry exploring incentives to support the agricultural sector with the number of working holiday makers Australia wide almost halving since March.

Katter’s Australian Party candidate for Cook Tanika Parker said there are many diverse industries across her electorate in need of assistance and a gap year proposal like this would have untold benefits for participants.

“The life experience of doing physical work is invaluable and immeasurable,” she said.

“Graduating year 12 students and university students will be able to take up work for 18 months. To make this worthwhile, a gap year participant will have a benefit of $20,000 in his bank account at the end of the 18 months.

“The cost to the taxpayers is very small because these people would have been getting government welfare or government assistance at university anyway.

“In the process, the government saves our vital industries and there will be significant social benefits for the towns where the workers will be based - especially for the rugby league and netball teams, the pubs and the small business owners.”