Stories of foreign backpackers on working holiday visas being threatened with sexual assault have been reported by the ABC. There are fears that without more stringent measures in place to ensure compliance, upcoming visa changes will lead to increased exploitation and abuse of holidaymakers in regional and remote Australia.
New working holiday visa changes are set to be implemented next month, which will allow workers to stay a third year in exchange for six months extra farm work. However, in light of recent horror stories being reported of terrible living conditions, sexual assault and restrictions of movement on young, often female workers, there are calls for more regulation on employers.
Experts say that by extending the visa for an extra year will only leave more workers liable to abuse by farm and fruit-picking employers, without enough oversight of employment and living conditions.
