Australia seeks to change visa deal with UK after influx of Britons

Australia says easing of rules has led to surge in British visitor numbers, putting pressure on local workforce

The Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has told Andy Burnham he is looking at changing rules for British backpackers in Australia, after an increase in the number of travellers visiting popular hotspots such as Sydney.

Albanese, who met Burnham on Monday evening at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting (Chogm) in the Caribbean, told reporters he wanted to discuss changing the agreement between the UK and Australia that removes a regional work requirement for British travellers.

Backpackers had previously been required to do about three months of regional work as part of visa conditions to help with the country’s work shortages in some occupations.