HOGAN BACKS BACKPACKER TAX CUT

Nationals MP Kevin Hogan has welcomed cabinet’s decision, to nearly halve the controversial backpacker tax.

From January 1, visiting workers will now pay 19% tax on money earned in Australia, down from around 32%

“I’m happy it’s been done as quickly as we can and I’m delighted with the decision.”

“If we’d bought in the backpacker tax at 32 percent, then they wouldn’t come and obviously we’d have blueberries and all other sorts of produce that wouldn’t be picked, and that would be a disaster.”

Agriculture and tourism operators had lobbied Hogan and other regional MPs for the change, fearing the higher tax rate would’ve caused a labor shortage.

(AUDIO IN PARTS)