Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

No, I do. And I wish Senator Duniam could stand up and contribute on behalf of Tasmanian fruitgrowers who do not agree with this. But the truth is you tried to pull a stunt yesterday afternoon in the Senate, Senator Cormann. Your speaking list crumbled and we ended up having a vote, which backfired on you, and here we are in a situation where I cannot do my job as a senator. I am under the pump to try and get this voted on. I could certainly spend a couple of hours just on this issue of residency, but I do not have that opportunity, which I find very, very frustrating.

I have no doubt that with the rules the way they, with the clarification the ATO has provided, backpackers in the future will take into account the information they have been provided and the majority of them will end up still being residents for tax purposes. We will maintain in this country our competitive advantage of them not paying tax on the average of $14,000 that they earn.

I urge the Senate: do not give away this country's competitive advantage in attracting backpacker labour to fruitgrowers in the state Senator Lambie and I are from, Tasmania. Do not give away our competitive advantage. Numbers are already down. Nineteen per cent is not acceptable to fruitgrowers in this country, regardless of what the NFF and other cheerleaders for the Liberal and Nationals parties say. It is not acceptable. Do not vote for this legislation.