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PM Eyes Backpacker Scheme Overhaul in UK Leader Talks
Albanese will ask the UK to restore regional work requirements as Australia cuts visa caps to reduce working holiday arrivals.
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will seek to reverse Morrison-era free trade agreement rules exempting British backpackers from regional work requirements during his meeting with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua this week.
- A 2021 decision doubled British backpacker visas to nearly 80,000 annually by removing regional work requirements, while the government now aims to curb net overseas migration to 245,000 this financial year through broader visa overhauls.
- Opposition Leader Angus Taylor accused the Prime Minister of having "lost control over our borders" by seeking UK help, claiming the Coalition wants backpackers performing rural work despite his own migration plan omitting British arrangements.
- Backpacker Job Board founder Matthew Heyes welcomed efforts to encourage regional labor but criticized Labor's proposed lottery system for non-UK working holiday makers, stating, "Under this ballot, that contribution might earn them nothing more than a lottery ticket."
- Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke's office stated the government remains committed to reducing net overseas migration while filling labor gaps in essential sectors, favoring the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme for agriculture over other visa pathways.
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Under fire at home, Albanese walks a tightrope at Caribbean summit
November 2, 2026 — 4:01pmSaveYou have reached your maximum number of saved items.Remove items from your saved list to add more.No gift articles leftYou've used all of your gift articles. 3 more will become available on the 1st of every month.CloseAAAEvery couple of years, for a day or two, Australians are briefly reminded that the…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources10
Leaning Left5Leaning Right3Center1Last UpdatedBias Distribution56% Left
Bias Distribution
- 56% of the sources lean Left
56% Left
L 56%
11%
R 33%
Factuality
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