Working holiday makers will now pay more than $100 extra to receive an Australian visa following changes introduced on July 1.
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This makes the Australian Working Holiday Maker visa the most expensive of its kind in the world at $640 - a jump from $530 - which could deter backpackers from visiting the country according to some industry professionals.
Following the change, Citrus SA chair Mark Doecke said the citrus industry was extremely concerned workforce needs would not be met and the government continued to show a disconnect with horticulture.
"They initially promised an increased number of people under the ASEAN farm workers visa scheme, but this program has since been scrapped," he said.
"The PALM Scheme was a good option, but the latest changes are making that un-workable for many in the industry.
"Backpackers have always offered a great short-term solution, so changes to this visa would be very disappointing."
With more than 137,000 WHM visa holders currently in Australia, they make up to 80 per cent of the harvest labour force in horticulture, while in other industries they account for 5pc to 15pc of the junior, casual and seasonal workforce.
Backpacker Kay Bruce, Liverpool, England, said although the price hike wasn't a positive announcement for backpackers, she believed backpackers wanting to come to Australia would still do so.
"The price didn't factor too much for me," she said.
"I think obviously the cheaper the better because you have to save thousands to backpack, but it wasn't something that was going to stop me.
"Australia was where I wanted to be, so if it cost me an extra $130 at the time I would've paid it."
Although Australia has its unique drawcards, Ms Bruce said she understood why there was concern surrounding the increase.
"If there are people tossing up whether they go to Australia, New Zealand or Canada, the price could make that decision for them," she said.
"My sister is over in Canada at the moment on a working holiday visa which is somewhere a lot of backpackers want to go, so when you're saving all of that money to go somewhere, that extra $130 might be the decider if you're not set on one country.
"But, compared to NZ and Canada, Australia is known for the ability to earn a lot better money, so people still might think about they fact they can earn the money back quicker here."
Currently working as a bartender on the Eyre Peninsula, Ms Bruce said the eastern states were what first enticed her to the country, but SA has been an eye opener for her.
"I think SA is really an untapped area for backpackers," she said.
"When we think of Australia we think of NSW or Qld or even Victoria, but we don't think of SA.
"Coming to the Eyre Peninsula was definitely a culture shock for me, but it's such a hidden gem and it give backpackers a true, authentic Australian experience."
Liberal Member for Barker Tony Pasin hit out at the federal government over the increase, saying many employers in Barker relied on backpackers to fill labour shortages and local communities welcomed backpackers to spend their earnings locally.
"At a time when regional communities are crying out for workers, increasing the cost of the visa, and considering reducing its length to one year and removing the regional work requirements just beggars belief," Mr Pasin said.
"Backpackers play an important role in regional economies, filling labour gaps in hospitality and agriculture in particular.
"Labor simply doesn't understand the regions."
Katie Jackson
Journalist at Stock Journal. Born into a journo family in the state's South East, Katie made the move to the big smoke to join the team in early 2022 after seven years spent at various mastheads in the regions.
Journalist at Stock Journal. Born into a journo family in the state's South East, Katie made the move to the big smoke to join the team in early 2022 after seven years spent at various mastheads in the regions.
