TASMANIAN Liberal Senator Jonathon Duniam has put pressure on his own leader to make a decision on the federal government’s proposed backpacker tax.
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Senator Duniam said he had been in touch with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s office and was confident his call had been heard loud and clear.
“It’s a matter of ramping up the pressure and keeping them on their toes to ensure in the interest of Tasmanian farmers and fruit growers that we get urgent action on this,” he said.
“I would hope that we can do something as soon as possible because this is all about creating certainty of access to the seasonal workforce needed for particular harvest seasons.
“I’ve taken this to the top because I believe that Mr Turnbull understands the importance of these interests for our state and a need for a sensible outcome.”
The federal government plan to make people working on a holiday visa pay 32.5 cents in the dollar in tax is expected to yield it $540 million in revenue.
It also wants to abolish the $18,500 tax-free threshold.
A delegation of Tasmanian farmers and fruit growers travelled to Canberra last week to campaign against the tax changes.
They gave the government ten days to decide whether the state would score a concession.
“The timeline is as soon as possible and that might as well have been yesterday,” Senator Duniam said.
“We just need action now.
“The pressure will remain until we get a solution that’s satisfactory to our state.”
The tourism, fruit-growing and agriculture industries have said the tax would deter overseas travellers from visiting and working in the state.
Tourism Research Australia’s International Visitor Survey released this month showed a seven per cent decline in backpacking visitors.
Tourism Industry Council Tasmania surveyed tourist operators on the tax recently and found that 83 per cent of them expect it to negatively affect visitor numbers to their region.
The Tasmanian Farmers Association and Fruit Growers Tasmania believe that the proposed tax rate is too high.
Fruit Growers Tasmania states that a 19.5 per cent rate would be acceptable.
The tax is scheduled to be applied from January 1.
A review of the proposal delayed its application by six months.
