Federal Parliament must pressure Turnbull to dump backpacker tax

The Palaszczuk Government is urging the new Federal Parliament, when it meets in Canberra for the first time since the election this week, to pressure the Turnbull Government to abolish the backpacker tax that would damage the State’s agricultural and tourism industries.

Agriculture Minister Leanne Donaldson and Tourism Minister Kate Jones said the Palaszczuk Government had already secured the support of the Queensland Parliament to oppose the backpacker tax move and the LNP State Convention has belatedly offered its support at the weekend.

“While the Turnbull Government had given a reprieve on the tax, which was due to start from 1 July, the threat is they will implement it,” Minister Donaldson said.

The Turnbull Government has proposed working holiday visa holders would no longer receive a tax-free threshold and would be taxed on every dollar earnt at the rate of 32.5 cents.

“Rural and regional economies across Queensland will be devastated by this and that’s why we have urged the Coalition in Canberra to dump it,” Minister Donaldson said.

“Hundreds of thousands of backpackers come to Queensland each year and spend approximately $900 million a year."

“The Palaszczuk Government has been calling for the tax to be abolished for more than a year and now the Queensland Parliament has endorsed that call.”

Tourism Minister Kate Jones said the backpacker tax would hit Queensland hardest.

“The Federal Government already slug backpackers with a $440 working visa fee, now they want tax them more than 30 cents in the dollar from the very first dollar they earn in Australia,” Ms Jones said.

“We know that our state will be hit hardest by this tax with more than half of the 600,000 backpackers who come to Australia working and holidaying in Queensland."

“We should be making it easier, not harder for people to holiday and work in Queensland and I call on Mr Turnbull to abandon this tax once and for all.”

Media contacts:

Adrian Taylor (Minister Donaldson) 0448 994 172

Matt Justum (Minister Jones) 0408 998 940