Tony Burke’s Backpacker backdown looms large in yet another Albanese government policy capitulation

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke is soon poised to announce a partial overhaul of his contentious backpacker crackdown, including raising a proposed cap on third-year visas.

Just days after Labor caved to public pressure on the sale of key defence sites in Sydney and Melbourne, the Albanese government is preparing to unveil another significant policy backdown.

Earlier this year the West Australian revealed the government would introduce a US-style “green card lottery” system for back packer visas, but the controversial idea is now likely to be delayed.

Sources have also told the West a 5000 cap on third year back packer visas is expected to be increased by 20,000 and higher regional-stay requirements, with the Government claiming the initial policy was “always adjustable”.

Labor’s immigration shakeup aimed at driving down net overseas arrivals by 75,000 a year was unveiled by Mr Burke at the National Press Club in September, following a delay caused by disagreements in Cabinet about the details.

“We need immigration. We just need to make sure that it is targeted for the needs of Australia in numbers and across the different categories that work for our economy,” Mr Burke said at the time.

This year the Albanese government has partially backdown or reversed decisions on unpopular policies including death taxes, Capital Gains Tax changes, ATO credit card payments and the proposed sale of defence sites such as Victoria Barracks.

Accommodation Australia chief executive James Goodwin has told the West that industry is consulting with the government about possible refining of the back packer changes but said time was running out before the busy summer period.

The West has contacted Mr Burke’s office for comment about the looming possible backdown but has not received a response.