A working holiday

in Downunder is a rite of passage for many young people. 
It isn't always fun. It isn't always easy. There are far too many instances of young people doing the back breaking work of fruit picking and other like jobs and not being paid a fair wage.
Many of them are doing the jobs that others don't want to do. Some are prepared to do anything in order to see something of the world. I have met any number of them. They are generally wonderful young people who find that the experience of a break between school and university is a good thing. Doing hard manual labour is an experience they may not be really enjoying but the opportunity to travel is more important.
The positives usually far outweigh the negatives. They do so not just for the young "backpackers" but the rest of us as well. Fruit gets picked, cleaned, sorted, packed and more. Many primary producers depend on the efforts of these people. The best of these primary producers treat young people reasonably well. The issue of pay is a big one but often the producers are paying their workers what they can afford. The producers themselves are often being paid too little. It is those who buy and sell on who make the money - the "middle men" who do none of the hard physical labour.
This sort of thing goes on in many countries. It is the sort of thing that, given the physical capacity and the confidence, I would have liked to do. I am just a little jealous of these young people who are learning so much about not just the world but themselves.
So, it is with alarm that I read that the union movement has put in a submission to a Senate inquiry. If accepted it would severely reduce the ability of young people to work here for a couple of years before moving on. We will be denying them the opportunity to live and work in another country for a short time - with all the learning experiences that can come with it.
I imagine alarm bells are also ringing at the homes of primary producers who need that labour in order to survive.
The argument is that the jobs should go to the unemployed here. The problem is that many people are simply not willing to do the work.  The jobs are often in regional areas and people are often not prepared to go there for just a short period. The likely pay and conditions are not what they are willing to put up with either. 
Yes, of course it would be good to employ local residents first but they need to be available and willing and to work as hard as the young people currently doing the work.
Our young people go abroad to do the same sort of thing too. It's a way of building international understanding and tolerance and maturity.
It's something we need to encourage, not discourage.