Every month or so, wine-makers from across Rutherglen have dinner to catch up and exchange ideas.
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For Rutherglen estates general manger and chief winemaker Marc Scalzo, one of the highlights is sharing insight with people who have come from overseas to work in Australia.
“The winemakers meet for dinner, and workers who have come from all around the world come as well,” he said.
“That’s when the whole of Rutherglen benefits from these foreign workers coming in and exchanging ideas.”
A number of industries that lend much of their manpower from temporary overseas workers have joined an outcry against proposed changes to tax thresholds in concern it will deter backpackers from coming to the country.
From July 1, the tax status of temporary working holiday makers will change from that of resident, to non-resident, meaning workers who previously earned up to $18,200 tax-free will now pay 32.5 cents in tax for each $1 they earn.
Mr Scalzo said he didn’t often employ back-packers, but that he wanted foreign workers to be encouraged to make the trip overseas.
“It’s still got be achievable for these people to come to Australia,” he said.
“We would be disappointed if the Australian government made it harder for people to get visas, there’s enough bureaucracy as it is.
“I think Australia benefits from cultural exchange from people around the world coming here.”
Andrea Pucci of Pisa, Italy, on a one year working holiday visa, secured a job at Rutherglen Estates through a mutual friend.
Mr Pucci said a higher level of tax on his income would not have affected his decision to find a job in Australia.
“I organised this trip about October, November of last year – if I found a job I would come here,” he said.
AUSVEG national export development manager Michael Coote said there had been a drop of 34,000 working holiday maker visa holders in the last two years.
“The vegetable and potato growing industries across the north-east of Victoria would be hit particularly hard if increased taxes deter backpackers from working in these regions,” he said.
“There is simply not enough local labour to satisfy demand during peak harvesting periods, and backpackers play a vital role on Australian farms by providing a workforce during these critical times.”
Mr Coote said the Australian vegetable industry “could be adversely affected” by the tax changes.
“We would like to see government work together with industry to establish a tax rate for backpackers that is set at a level that will not deter prospective working holiday makers,” he said.