Australia seeks to change visa deal with UK after influx of Britons
Summary
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he wants to discuss changing the UK-Australia visa deal for British backpackers. The deal removed a regional work requirement, and Australia says the number of British travellers rose from 40,000 two years ago to 87,000 last year, with many working in Sydney-area hospitality jobs.Key Facts
- Albanese raised the possible visa changes with Andy Burnham at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in the Caribbean.
- The visa deal lets British travellers avoid regional work that other nationalities may need to complete as a visa condition.
- The deal extended the maximum visa period to three years and raised the age limit to 35.
- Australia reported 87,000 British travellers last year, up from 40,000 two years earlier.
- Albanese said many travellers were staying and working in Sydney-area suburbs such as Bondi Beach and Coogee.
- Albanese said the concentration of travellers was putting pressure on local hospitality workers and distorting the labour market.
- The visa changes also apply to Australians travelling to the UK, but fewer than 10,000 Australians went last year.
- A Downing Street spokesperson confirmed the leaders had discussed visas but made no commitment to changes.
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