Seasonal workers will head to New Zealand if Australia ramps up backpacker tax

BUREAUCRATIC bumbling over the controversial backpacker tax is doing more damage than the tax itself. This is the message from leaders in the Riverina horticulture industry who fear workers will head to New Zealand instead of Australia due to the financial imposts. Riverina Wine Grape Marketing Board chief executive officer Brian Simpson said the backpacker tax didn’t just hurt agriculture and horticulture but was also detrimental to the broader economy.