Summit Backpackers Hostel ‘just scraping through’ as Granite Belt worker crisis escalates

A labour shortage gripping the country continues to wreak havoc on the Southern Downs, with one business owner saying she is losing money over having empty beds and fears things are just going to get worse.

Ben and Penny Potter from Summit Backpackers Hostel. Photo: Contributed

A Granite Belt backpacker hostel owner says they are struggling to fill beds and generate an income with their primary guests of agricultural workers being almost wiped out as a result of the region’s labour shortage crisis.

Penny and Ben Potter have operated the Summit Backpackers Hostel for more than four years and say their business was “thriving” before Covid.

Since the international borders closed last year, Mrs Potter said the agricultural labour shortage crisis in the region has impacted her business.

“It’s obviously been very difficult because they are the main workforce that fill our beds. There are no new arrivals, many have gone back home and we can't get any new backpackers here,” she said.

Ben and Penny Potter from Summit Backpackers Hostel with their kids Banjo and Roxy. Photo: Contributed

Mrs Potter said the hostel is only “just scraping through” due to the significantly reduced demand. 

“Normally we have 10 to 20 people calling each day trying to get a bed at the hostel, these days we might have one or two calls a week,” she said.

“Things are definitely dropping off. We’re trying to provide a good experience, attract some people but it’s a matter of scraping through and surviving and trying to stay positive and hopefully in a few months it might be better. But it seems to be getting worse.”

Mrs Potter said the uncertainty surrounding when international workers will be able to live in Australia has been stressful for the family and a “real rollercoaster”.

“The bills we are going to run are huge. I keep thinking, ‘Are we going to make any money and cover our costs?’” she said.

Mrs Potter said it was frustrating that the government wasn’t doing more to support farmers and those affected by the shortage.

“It should be a really important factor to ensure we have a workforce to harvest food,” she said.

Mrs Potter hopes that backpackers will soon be able to enter Australia as the family really enjoy enriching themselves and creating positive relationships with their guests when they stay at their hostel.

Originally published as Summit Backpackers Hostel ‘just scraping through’ as Granite Belt worker crisis escalates