Australian Nut Industry Council (ANIC) Chair, Jolyon Burnett, said the nut industry welcomed the bipartisan nature of the 15 percent deal that has been offered up, and encourages the Government to now agree and move on. “The decision on the backpacker tax directly impacts the livelihoods of farmers and their businesses. That this has taken 18 months to resolve is not acceptable. Australian agriculture cannot afford a backpacker tax of 32.5 percent, which is what will happen on 1^st January 2017 if our elected representatives cannot come to a resolution by the end of the day.”

The nut industry says it appreciates the efforts of those who have worked to bring the tax rate down from the initially proposed 32.5 percent. “At 32.5 percent, Australian agriculture cannot be internationally competitive.  At least at 15 per cent, we have a chance,” Burnett said. “We urge the Senate to now expedite the passage of the relevant legislation for the sake of Australian farmers.”