Proposed changes to backpacker visas could place added pressure on regional workforces according to industry officials.
Under the proposals, working holiday makers wanting to stay beyond one year would enter a ballot system, while second-year visa numbers would be cut from 57-thousand to 45-thousand.
Third-year visas would also be reduced, falling from 31-thousand places to just 5-thousand.
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Industry leaders say the changes could have a significant impact on the agricultural sector, with many Riverland growers relying on backpackers to fill seasonal roles, including harvest.
Over the 2024-2025 financial year over 320,000 backpacker visas were issued, compared to just over 200,000 pre-pandemic.
