Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 46 standing in my name.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that the fruit, berry, cherry and wine industries in Tasmania:

  (i) are worth $345 million each year,

  (ii) employ approximately 30 000 people each year,

  (iii) face risks to their profitability and viability because of the Federal Government's plans to remove the tax-free threshold on backpackers' wages,

  (iv) have traditionally relied on a surge of overseas backpackers to harvest our crops,

  (v) compete with New Zealand for a scarce backpacker labour pool,

  (vi) are placed at risk of being crippled because of the Federal Government's plans to remove the tax-free threshold on backpackers' wages,

  (vii) are supported by a parliamentary delegation of 10 people from Tasmania's horticulture and viticulture industries in a bid to overturn the controversial backpacker tax and fill 10 000 seasonal jobs in the sector,

  (viii) are supported by peak body Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association (TFGA) which opposes the removal of the tax-free threshold on backpackers wages, and

  (ix) are supported by the Tasmanian Liberal state government which also opposes the removal of the tax-free threshold on backpackers wages; and

(b) calls on the Government to listen to industry and state government leaders about the adverse impacts of this ill-conceived tax.

Question agreed to.