Australian mango growers have warned that proposed working holiday visa changes could leave the Northern Territory short of almost 1,000 harvest workers, with much of its premium fruit at risk of remaining on the trees.
The Northern Territory Government says up to 70% of the Top End crop could be left to rot if growers cannot recruit enough pickers and packers. It estimates that close to one million trays could go unharvested.
The territory’s mango industry is worth $128 million and requires about 3,500 workers during the harvest season, which runs from September to December.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has announced plans to reduce the cap on second-year working holiday visas from 57,000 to 45,000. Third-year visas would fall from 31,000 to 5,000.
Backpackers would also have to enter a ballot for the chance to remain in Australia beyond their first year, resulting in about 38,000 fewer second- and third-year workers than in 2026.
Trevor Dunmall, chief executive of Australian Mangoes, said young travellers were an essential part of the workforce across the industry.
“There are huge benefits to the industry having a readily available work force,” he said.
“We’re really concerned that growers will not be able to pick the fruit and there will be less fruit available … for Australian consumers and those consumers around the world who love Australian mangoes.”
Mr Dunmall said the effect on this year’s harvest remained uncertain, but that 2027 was a major concern. He said the federal government’s handling of the migration debate had been flawed because backpacker fruit pickers did not intend to remain in Australia.
NT Agriculture Minister Gerard Maley said the expected worker shortage could leave about 70% of the harvest unpicked, costing up to $27 million. He warned that the consequences would extend beyond growers to regional jobs and economic activity.
“This isn’t just a number on a spreadsheet, it’s fruit left rotting on trees, income lost by growers, fewer jobs in regional communities and less economic activity flowing through the territory,” Mr Maley said.
Mangoes are grown commercially in the Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia and northern New South Wales, with the territory supplying about half of Australia’s total crop.
NT Opposition Leader Selena Uibo has called on her federal Labor colleagues to secure an exemption for the territory.
“The federal Labor government will show a complete lack of regard for the Northern Territory if they do not give us a carve-out,” she said.
