The Sydney Morning Herald
· collected 2026-09-18 · by Nick Newling, Benjamin Preiss
Story summary
Amanda Rishworth, Australia's Employment Minister, dodged questions eight times about whether Labor modeled the economic impact of its plan to cut nearly 40,000 backpacker visas annually. The government plans also include increased enforcement against overstayers and stricter visa requirements. Despite being questioned on radio Friday morning, Rishworth refused to comment directly on the wage impacts or broader economic consequences, citing it as a matter for Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke.
The opposition Coalition, along with the National Farmers' Federation, criticized Labor's overhaul, arguing that reducing migrant labor could raise food prices and harm primary producers. Meanwhile, Rishworth stated she found unacceptable any suggestion that backpackers are being paid below Australia’s safety net wage standards but did not address the modeling questions directly.
This back-and-forth highlights the contentious debate over Labor's migration plan, with critics arguing it will damage the Australian economy while Labor maintains its focus on worker rights and economic stability.
Written for “Migration Policy Controversy” on 2026-09-18,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth has repeatedly failed to say whether Labor modelled the impacts of its new migration plan on wages or the broader economy, despite the government claiming plans proposed by One Nation and the Coalition would damage the Australian economy.
asserted
plans → fail → economy
Speaking on radio on Friday morning, Rishworth was asked eight times whether the government had modelled the impact on wages of significant cuts to backpacker visas, and the broader economic impact of Labor’s plan, and eight times did not give a direct answer.
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government → speak → answer
In response to repeated questions, Rishworth said she was “not really able to comment” on the modelling, later saying it was a matter for Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke.
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it → repeat → Burke
As minister for both employment and workplace relations, Rishworth has oversight over workers’ wages and is a member of cabinet.
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Rishworth → have → cabinet
Labor has vowed to cut nearly 40,000 backpacker visas per year and crack down on overstayers through increased enforcement as part of a plan that Burke unveiled on Thursday.
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Burke → vow → Thursday
The Coalition and the National Farmers’ Federation have slammed the overhaul, arguing it will raise the price of food and hurt primary producers.
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it → slam → producers
The new regulations do not lower Labor’s current net overseas migration target, but instead aim to help the government achieve its plan of 245,000 migrants by June next year and then 225,000 by mid-2028.
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government → lower → mid-2028
One Nation wants negative migration, followed by an annual net migration figure of 130,000, while the Coalition wants a figure slightly lower than 170,000.
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Coalition → want → 170,000
One Nation’s plan has been widely condemned as economically reckless.
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plan → condemn → ?
Net overseas migration is the total number of people entering the country minus the number of people leaving.
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migration → enter → people
During her ABC Radio National appearance, Rishworth said the policy amounted to “important and sensible changes” that contributed to a “sustainable” migration policy.
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that → say → policy
Rishworth was unable to say whether there would be a positive impact to domestic workers’ wages or increased wage bills for farmers.
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Rishworth → say → farmers
Asked a third time about the modelling of wages, Rishworth said: “We always want to see decent wages for workers, but there is a safety net in this country, and if the suggestion is suggesting somehow that backpackers are getting paid under that safety net, then I would find that unacceptable.”
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that → ask → net
Opposition employment spokeswoman Jane Hume told this masthead that Labor wasn’t serious about lowering migration, and Rishworth had proven it.
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Rishworth → tell → it
“Amanda Rishworth is the employment minister, yet she can’t answer a basic question about the impact of her government’s own policy on Australian wages,” Hume said.
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Hume → answer → wages
“If she hasn’t seen the modelling, she should.
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she → see → modelling
If it doesn’t exist, Labor should say so.
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Labor → exist → ?
Because otherwise just like inflation and housing, this is just another target Labor will fail to meet.
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Labor → fail → inflation
Earlier this week, Labor rubbished One Nation’s migration proposal, arguing it could push the Australian economy into recession.
uncertain
it → rubbish → recession
Under Labor’s plan, working holidaymakers or backpackers will face a ballot system to access second- and third-year visa renewals.
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holidaymakers → work → renewals
Second-year places will drop from 57,000 to 45,000, and third-year places will drop from 31,000 to 5000.
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places → drop → 5000
Kyalite Pistachios general manager Ben Seton-Stewart said his orchard operation was highly dependent on access to a reliable seasonal workforce.
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operation → say → workforce
He said pruning, crop management, harvesting and processing must be completed within narrow windows and seasonal workers provided essential labour capacity on his farm near Swan Hill, on the Victoria-NSW border.
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workers → say → border
His business has recently moved away from relying primarily on backpackers in favour of labour-hire arrangements.
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business → move → arrangements
But he said seasonal workers spent money in local communities, making an important economic contribution.
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workers → say → contribution
“The value of these workers therefore extends well beyond their immediate role in the orchard,” he said.
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he → extend → orchard
Get across all our coverage
- Burke’s warning: Is Australia becoming a guest worker economy?
-
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Australia → get → warning
As it happened: Labor unveils immigration overhaul
- What Australians really think: The migration pathways voters want slashed
- Listen: Steph Peatling and Paul Sakkal unpack Labor’s immigration shake-up
Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis.
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Peatling → happen → news
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Subscribers → sign → newsletter
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