Country town reliant on backpackers warns visa changes will cripple business

In Paul Fowler's country pub, more than half a dozen backpackers make up over 70 per cent of his workforce.

Italian travellers keep business ticking over from the front of house all the way through to his busy kitchen.

It is a similar situation at many businesses across Manjimup, 290 kilometres south of Perth in southern Western Australia, with the tourism and agricultural centre heavily reliant on backpacker labour.

Both Mr Fowler and his workers have backed calls to scrap the federal government's controversial changes to Australia's working holiday visa program.

"It's only going to make things harder, and it takes away our ability to function," he said.

Before the working holiday visa changes were announced, Mr Fowler bought a second pub in the neighbouring town of Pemberton, which he planned to staff with backpackers.

Mr Fowler said that business was now under threat.

"We probably go through 50 to 80 workers a year, all backpacking workers, and so without the backpacking staff, we won't have a workforce here at all," he said.

"We could have more workers now if we could get them, but they're not here."

The federal government's decision to initially slow down visa applications in August was heavily criticised by farming and regional communities across the country.

The decision to allocate fewer second and third-year visa extensions prompted WA's Premier Roger Cook to ask federal Immigration Minister Tony Burke to reconsider the restrictions.

A spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs said the reduction would ensure the program's long-term sustainability, and it would work with affected industries to access the labour they need.

Back in Manjimup, those impacted say the move fails to account for the benefits backpackers provide beyond their first year.

Roberto Spadotto came to Manjimup to work as a farmhand, picking avocados and broccoli as part of his visa obligations.

After completing his 88 days and being granted an extension, he started managing Mr Fowler's pub along with his partner Giulia Colombo, whom he met while completing his farm work.

"That's where I met Giulia … one of the worst and best days of my life because picking broccoli is very tough, but I enjoyed it and I had a good outcome," he said.

After spending about four years in the region, the Italian couple were hoping to put down roots.

"I love the area, love the region, never really thought about moving somewhere else," he said.

"And now we're planning to stay, settle, and build a new life here in Australia."

Backpackers shipping out

Fellow Italian traveller Valerie Casto completed her farm work in a seedling nursery, before starting work as a chef once her visa was extended.

She said the incoming changes were turning some of her friends off coming to Australia.

"Half a year of a farm job can be very, very hard," Ms Castro said.

"And some people don't know if it's worth it, if at the end the visa is not granted."

It is an experience all too familiar for truffle farmer Gavin Booth, who produces the valuable fungus on a property in neighbouring Pemberton.

He relies on backpackers for sporadic and seasonal work.

"We had a girl who's worked for us for a couple of years, a French backpacker, and she was on her third year visa when she found out she would have to go into a 5,000-space lottery," he said.

"She just said, 'Stuff this, I don't want to do this' and left.

"She was happy to come here and earn the money, to spend the money in this economy, and now she's left for Bali."