{"id":"F2022L00271","name":"Migration (Specified work and areas for subclass 417 visas) Instrument (LIN 22/012) 2022","slug":"migration-specified-work-and-areas-for-subclass-417-visas-instrument-lin-22-012-2022","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":102305,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2022L00271-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Name","content":"#### 1 Name\n\n This instrument is the Migration (Specified Work and Areas for Subclass 417 visas) Instrument (LIN 22/012) 2022.","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Purpose of Instrument","content":"#### 3 Purpose of Instrument\n\n For the definition of specified Subclass 417 work in regulation 1.03 and regulation 1.15FAA of the Regulations, this instrument specifies:\n (a) areas of Australia; and\n (b) kinds of work.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Definitions","content":"#### 4 Definitions\n\n> In this instrument:\n\n> bushfire affected area means one or more areas of Australia mentioned in item 1 of Schedule 1.\n\n> COVID-19 means the pandemic declared by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020, caused by the coronavirus COVID-19.\n\n> Northern Australia means one or more areas of Australia mentioned in item 2 of Schedule 1.\n\n> Regional Australia means one or more areas of Australia mentioned in item 3 of Schedule 1.\n\n> Remote and Very Remote Australia means one or more areas of Australia mentioned in item 4 of Schedule 1.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Fishing and pearling work, plant and animal cultivation work, tree farming and felling work, construction work and mining work","content":"#### 5 Fishing and pearling work, plant and animal cultivation work, tree farming and felling work, construction work and mining work\n\n (1) Regional Australia is specified if the work carried out in that area is a kind of work mentioned in subsection (2).\n (2) A kind of work mentioned in the following table is specified if carried out in Regional Australia.\n\n| Item | Kinds of work |\n| ---- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| 1 | Fishing and pearling:(a) conducting operations relating directly to taking or catching fish and other aquatic species;(b) conducting operations relating directly to taking or culturing pearls or pearl shell |\n| 2 | Plant and animal cultivation:(a) harvesting and/or packing of fruit and vegetable crops;(b) pruning or trimming vines and trees directly associated with the cultivation and commercial sale of plant produce;(c) general maintenance crop work;(d) cultivating or propagating plants, fungi or their products or parts;(e) immediate processing of plant products;(f) maintaining animals for the purposes of selling them or their bodily produce, including natural increase;(g) immediate processing of animal products including shearing, butchery, packing and tanning, but not including secondary processing;(h) manufacturing dairy produce from raw material |\n| 3 | Tree farming and felling:(a) planting or tending trees in a plantation or forest that are intended to be felled;(b) felling trees in a plantation or forest;(c) transporting trees or parts of trees that were felled in a plantation or forest to the place where they are first to be milled or processed, or any other place from which they are to be transported to the place where they are to be milled or processed |\n| 4 | Construction:(a) building construction;(b) heavy and civil engineering construction;(c) land development and site preparation services;(d) building structure services;(e) building installation services;(f) building completion services |\n| 5 | Mining:(a) coal mining;(b) oil and gas extraction;(c) metal ore mining;(d) construction material mining;(e) other non-metallic mineral mining and quarrying;(f) exploration;(g) mining support services |","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Tourism and hospitality work","content":"#### 6 Tourism and hospitality work\n\n (1) Areas of Australia within postcodes 4406, 4416, 4498 and 7215, Northern Australia and Remote and Very Remote Australia are specified if the work carried out in those areas is:\n (a) a kind of work mentioned in subsection (2); and\n (b) carried out after 21 June 2021.\n (2) Tourism and hospitality work is specified if carried out in areas of Australia within postcodes 4406, 4416, 4498 and 7215, Northern Australia and Remote and Very Remote Australia for a person providing one or more of the following services:\n (a) accommodation, including:\n (i) hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, and backpacker hostels;\n (ii) caravan parks and camping grounds;\n (iii) commercial housekeeping services;\n (iv) boarding houses, guest houses and reception centres;\n (b) food and beverage, including:\n (i) cafes and restaurants;\n (ii) takeaway food services;\n (iii) catering services;\n (iv) pubs, taverns and bars;\n (v) hospitality clubs;\n (c) services provided directly to tourists, including:\n (i) tourist guides and operators;\n (ii) outdoor adventure or activity instructors;\n (iii) tourist transport service workers;\n (iv) gallery or museum workers, curators or guides;\n (v) travel agency and tourist information workers;\n (vi) event and entertainment venue workers.","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"7","sectionType":"section","heading":"Bushfire recovery work","content":"#### 7 Bushfire recovery work\n\n (1) Bushfire affected area is specified if the work carried out in that area is:\n (a) a kind of work, paid or volunteer, mentioned in subsection (2); and\n (b) carried out after 31 July 2019.\n (2) Bushfire recovery work:\n (a) is specified if carried out in a bushfire affected area; and\n (b) includes:\n (i) construction, farming, or any other work in association with recovery or restitution of land, property, farm animals or wildlife;\n (ii) providing support services or assistance to people living, working or volunteering in the affected areas.","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"8","sectionType":"section","heading":"Critical COVID-19 work in the healthcare and medical sectors","content":"#### 8 Critical COVID-19 work in the healthcare and medical sectors\n\n (1) Each area of Australia is specified if the work carried out in that area is:\n (a) a kind of work mentioned in subsection (2); and\n (b) carried out after 31 January 2020.\n (2) Critical COVID-19 work in the healthcare and medical sectors:\n (a) is specified if carried out in each area of Australia; and\n (b) includes:\n (i) medical treatment, nursing, contact tracing, testing and research;\n (ii) support services such as cleaning of medical and health care facilities and equipment.","sortOrder":6},{"sectionNumber":"8A","sectionType":"section","heading":"Recovery work—flood, cyclone or other severe weather","content":"#### 8A Recovery work—flood, cyclone or other severe weather\n\n (1) A kind of work is specified for the purposes of the definition of specified Subclass 417 work in regulation 1.03 of the Regulations if the work:\n (a) is carried out in an area mentioned in item 5 of Schedule 1 as an area affected by flood, cyclone or other severe weather; and\n (b) is carried out after 31 December 2021; and\n (c) includes:\n (i) clean-up, construction or any other work in association with restitution or restoration of services, land, waterways, property or infrastructure;\n (ii) providing support services or assistance to people living, working or volunteering in the area affected by flood, cyclone or other severe weather.\n (2) An area of Australia is specified for the purposes of the definition of specified Subclass 417 work in regulation 1.03 of the Regulations if the area is an area mentioned in item 5 of Schedule 1 as an area affected by flood, cyclone or other severe weather.","sortOrder":7},{"sectionNumber":"9","sectionType":"section","heading":"Application of amendments made by LIN 24/020","content":"#### 9 Application of amendments made by LIN 24/020\n\n The amendments made by the Migration Legislation Amendment (Specified Work and Areas for Subclass 417 and 462 Visas) Instrument (LIN 24/020) 2024 apply in relation to an application for a Working Holiday (Temporary) (Class TZ) visa:\n\n made, but not finally determined, before the commencement of that instrument; or\n made on or after the commencement of that instrument.","sortOrder":8},{"sectionNumber":"10","sectionType":"section","heading":"Application of amendments made by LIN 25/048","content":"#### 10 Application of amendments made by LIN 25/048\n\n The amendments made by the Migration Legislation Amendment (Specified Work and Areas for Subclass 417 and 462 Visas) Instrument 2025 apply in relation to an application for a Working Holiday (Temporary) (Class TZ) visa:\n (a) made, but not finally determined, before the commencement of that instrument; or\n (b) made on or after the commencement of that instrument.\n\n \n\nSchedule 1 Specified areas of Australia\n\n```html\n

Item

Area of Australia

State or Territory

Postcodes / Areas

1

Bushfire affected areas

Australian Capital Territory

All areas.

New South Wales

Armidale, Ballina, Bathurst, Bega Valley, Bellingen, Blayney, Blue Mountains, Bogan, Brewarrina, Byron, Cabonne, Central Coast, Cessnock, Clarence Valley, Cobar, Coffs Harbour, Coonamble, Cootamundra-Gundagai, Cowra, Dubbo, Dungog, Maitland, Edward River, Eurobodalla, Glen Innes Severn, Goulburn Mulwaree, Gwydir, Greater Hume, Hawkesbury, Hilltops, Inverell, Kempsey, Ku-ring-gai, Kyogle, Lake Macquarie, Lismore, Lithgow, Liverpool Plains, Mid Coast, Mid-Western, Moree Plains, Muswellbrook, Nambucca, Nambucca Valley, Narrabri, Oberon, Penrith, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Port Stephens, Queanbeyan-Palerang, Richmond Valley, Shoalhaven, Singleton, Snowy Monaro, Snowy Valleys, Sutherland, Tamworth, Tenterfield, Tweed, Upper Hunter, Upper Hunter, Upper Lachlan, Uralla, Walcha, Walgett, Wagga Wagga, Warren, Wingecarribee, Wollondilly, Wollongong, and Yass Valley.

Northern Territory

Alice Springs, Barkly, Central Desert, East Arnhem, MacDonnell, Roper Gulf, Victoria Daly and West Daly.

Queensland

Balonne, Bundaberg, Bulloo, Cairns, Carpentaria, Cassowary Coast, Central Highlands, Cook, Douglas, Etheridge, Gladstone, Gold Coast, Goondiwindi, Gympie, Hinchinbrook, Hope Vale, Ipswich, Kowanyama, Livingstone, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Maranoa, Mareeba, Noosa, North Burnett, Redland, Scenic Rim, Somerset, Southern Downs, Sunshine Coast, Tablelands, Toowoomba, Townsville, Quilpie, Western Downs, Wujal Wujal and Yarrabah.

South Australia

Adelaide Hills, Coorong, Kangaroo Island, Kingston, Lower Eyre Peninsula, Mid Murray, Mount Barker, Murray Bridge, Playford, Southern Mallee and Yorke Peninsula.

Tasmania

Break O’Day, Central Highlands, Latrobe, and Southern Midlands.

Victoria

Alpine, Ararat, Ballarat, Bass Coast, Baw Baw, Benalla, Buloke, Cardinia, Casey, Central Goldfields, Colac Otway, East Gippsland, Falls Creek, Frankston, Glen Eira, Glenelg, Golden Plains, Greater Bendigo, Greater Dandenong, Greater Geelong, Greater Shepparton, Hepburn, Hindmarsh, Horsham, Indigo, Kingston, Knox, Latrobe, Macedon Ranges, Mansfield, Maroondah, Melton, Mitchell, Monash, Moorabool, Mornington Peninsula, Mount Alexander, Mount Buller, Mount Hotham, Mount Stirling, Moyne, Murrindindi, Northern Grampians, Pyrenees, South Gippsland, Southern Grampians, Strathbogie, Towong, Wangaratta, Warrnambool, Wellington, West Wimmera, Whitehorse, Wodonga, and Yarra Ranges.

Western Australia

Beverley, Brookton, Broome, Cue, East Pilbara, Greater Geraldton, Meekatharra, Murchison, Port Hedland, Swan, Upper Gascoyne, Wanneroo and Wiluna.

2

Northern Australia

Queensland

4472, 4478, 4481, 4482, 4680, 4694, 4695, 4697, 4699 to 4707, 4709 to 4714, 4717, 4720 to 4728, 4730 to 4733, 4735 to 4746, 4750, 4751, 4753, 4754, 4756, 4757, 4798 to 4812, 4814 to 4825, 4828 to 4830, 4849, 4850, 4852, 4854 to 4856, 4858 to 4861, 4865, 4868 to 4888, 4890 to 4892, 4895

Western Australia

0872, 6537, 6642, 6646, 6701, 6705, 6707, 6710 to 6714, 6716, 6718, 6720 to 6722, 6725, 6726, 6728, 6740, 6743, 6751, 6753, 6754, 6758, 6760, 6762, 6765, 6770

Northern Territory

All postcodes

3

Regional Australia

New South Wales

2311 to 2312, 2328 to 2411, 2420 to 2490, 2536 to 2551, 2575 to 2594, 2618 to 2739, 2787 to 2898

Victoria

3139, 3211 to 3334, 3340 to 3424, 3430 to 3649, 3658 to 3749, 3753, 3756, 3758, 3762, 3764, 3778 to 3781, 3783, 3797, 3799, 3810 to 3909, 3921 to 3925, 3945 to 3974, 3979, 3981 to 3996

Queensland

4124 to 4125; 4133; 4211; 4270 to 4272; 4275; 4280; 4285; 4287; 4307 to 4499; 4510; 4512; 4515 to 4519; 4522 to 4899

South Australia

All postcodes

Tasmania

All postcodes

Western Australia

6041 to 6044; 6055 to 6056; 6069; 6076; 6083 to 6084; 6111; 6121 to 6126; 6200 to 6799

Northern Territory

All postcodes in the Northern Territory

Norfolk Island

All postcodes

4

Remote and Very Remote Australia

New South Wales

2356, 2386, 2387, 2396, 2405, 2406, 2672, 2675, 2825, 2826, 2829, 2832 to 283, 2838 to 2840, 2873, 2878, 2879, 2898, 2899

Northern Territory

All postcodes

Queensland

4025, 4183, 4417 to 4420, 4422, 4423, 4426 to 4428, 4454, 4461, 4462, 4465, 4467, 4468, 4470, , 4474, 4475, 4477 to 4482, 4486 to 4494, 4496, 4497, 4680, 4694, 4695, 4697, 4699 to 4707, 4709 to 4714, 4717, 4720 to 4728, 4730 to 4733, 4735 to 4746, 4750, 4751, 4753, 4754, 4756, 4757, 4798 to 4812, 4814 to 4825, 4828 to 4830, 4849, 4850, 4852, 4854 to 4856, 4858 to 4861, 4865, 4868 to 4888, 4890 to 4892, 4895

Victoria

3424, 3506, 3509, 3512, 3889 to 3892

South Australia

5220 to 5223, 5302 to 5304, 5440, 5576, 5577, 5582, 5583, 5602 to 5607, 5611, 5630 to 5633, 5640 to 5642, 5650 to 5655, 5660, 5661, 5670, 5671, 5680, 5690, 5713, 5715, 5717, 5719, 5720, 5722 to 5725, 5730 to 5734

Tasmania

7139, 7255 to 7257, 7466 to 7470

Western Australia

6161, 6335 to 6338, 6341, 6343, 6346, 6348, 6350 to 6353, 6355 to 6359, 6361, 6363, 6365, 6367 to 6369, 6373, 6375, 6385, 6386, 6418 to 6429, 6431, 6434, 6436 to 6438, 6440, 6443, 6445 to 6448, 6450, 6452, 6466 to 6468, 6470, 6472, 6473, 6475 to 6477, 6479, 6480, 6484, 6487 to 6490, 6515, 6517 to 6519, 6536, 6605, 6606, 6608, 6609, 6612 to 6614, 6616, 6620, 6623, 6625, 6627, 6628, 6630 to 6632, 6635, 6638 to 6640, 6731, 6733, 6798, 6799

5

Area affected by flood, cyclone or other severe weather

New South Wales

Albury, Armidale, Ballina, Balranald, Bathurst, Bayside, Bega Valley, Bellingen, Berrigan, Blacktown, Bland, Blayney, Blue Mountains, Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Broken Hill, Byron, Cabonne, Camden, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Carrathool, Central Coast, Central Darling, Cessnock, Clarence Valley, Cobar, Coffs Harbour, Coolamon, Coonamble, Cootamundra-Gundagai, Cowra, Cumberland, Dubbo, Dungog, Edward River, Eurobodalla, Fairfield, Federation, Forbes, Georges River, Gilgandra, Glen Innes Severn, Goulburn Mulwaree, Greater Hume, Griffith, Gunnedah, Gwydir, Hawkesbury, Hay, Hilltops, Hornsby, Inner West, Inverell, Junee, Kempsey, Kiama, Ku-Ring-Gai, Kyogle, Lachlan, Lake Macquarie, Leeton, Lismore, Lithgow, Liverpool, Liverpool Plains, Lockhart, Maitland, Mid-Coast, Mid-Western, Mid-Western Regional, Moree Plains, Murray River, Murrumbidgee, Muswellbrook, Nambucca, Nambucca Valley, Narrabri, Narrandera, Narromine, Newcastle, Northern Beaches, Oberon, Orange, Parkes, Parramatta, Penrith, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Port Stephens, Queanbeyan Palerang, Randwick, Richmond Valley, Ryde, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Singleton, Snowy Monaro, Snowy Valleys, Strathfield, Sutherland, Tamworth Regional, Temora, Tenterfield, The Hills, Tweed, Unincorporated area (postcode 2011, 2898), Upper Hunter, Upper Lachlan, Uralla, Wagga Wagga, Walcha, Walgett, Warren, Warrumbungle, Waverley, Weddin, Wentworth, Willoughby, Wingecarribee, Wollondilly, Wollongong and Yass Valley.

Northern Territory

Alice Springs, Barkly, Central Desert, East Arnhem, Katherine, MacDonnell, Roper Gulf, Victoria Daly, West Arnhem and West Daly.

Queensland

Aurukun, Balonne, Banana, Barcaldine, Barcoo, Blackall-Tambo, Boulia, Brisbane, Bulloo, Bundaberg, Burdekin, Burke, Cairns, Carpentaria, Cassowary Coast, Charters Towers, Central Highlands, Cloncurry, Cook, Croydon, Cherbourg, Diamantina, Doomadgee, Douglas, Etheridge, Flinders, Fraser Coast, Gladstone, Gilgandra, Gold Coast, Goondiwindi, Gympie, Hinchinbrook, Hope Vale, Ipswich, Kowanyama, Livingstone, Lockhart River, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Longreach, Maranoa, Mareeba, McKinlay, Moreton Bay, Northern Peninsula, Mount Isa, Murweh, Noosa, North Burnett, Palm Island, Paroo, Quilpie, Redland, Richmond, Rockhampton, Scenic Rim, Somerset, South Burnett, Southern Downs, Sunshine Coast, Tablelands, Tenterfield, Toowoomba, Torres, Torres Strait, Townsville, Western Downs, Whitsunday, Winton, Wujal Wujal and Yarrabah.

South Australia

Alexandrina, Berri Barmera, Coorong, Karoonda East Murray, Loxton Waikerie, Mid Murray, Murray Bridge and Renmark Paringa.

Tasmania

All areas.

Victoria

Alpine, Ararat, Ballarat, Bass Coast, Baw Baw, Benalla, Berrigan, Boroondara, Buloke, Campaspe, Cardinia, Casey, Central Goldfields, Colac Otway, Corangamite, East Gippsland, Frankston, Gannawarra, Glen Eira, Glenelg, Golden Plains, Greater Bendigo, Greater Dandenong, Greater Geelong, Greater Shepparton, Hepburn, Horsham, Indigo, Kingston, Knox, Latrobe, Loddon, Macedon Ranges, Mansfield, Maribyrnong, Maroondah, Melbourne, Melton, Mildura, Mitchell, Moira, Monash, Moonee Valley, Moorabool, Mornington Peninsula, Mount Alexander, Murrindindi, Nillumbik, Northern Grampians, Pyrenees, Snowy Valleys, South Gippsland, Southern Grampians, Strathbogie, Swan Hill, Towong, Wangaratta, Warrnambool, Wellington, Whitehorse, Wodonga, Yarra and Yarra Ranges.

Western Australia

Ashburton, Augusta-Margaret River, Beverley, Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Brookton, Broome, Bruce Rock, Bunbury, Busselton, Carnarvon, Coolgardie, Corrigin, Cue, Dardanup, Derby West Kimberley, Dundas, East Kimberley, East Pilbara, Greater Geraldton, Halls Creek, Jerramungup, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Karratha, Laverton, Leonora, Meekatharra, Menzies, Morawa, Murchison, Ngaanyatjarraku, Northampton, Port Hedland, Ravensthorpe, Sandstone, Swan, Upper Gascoyne, Wanneroo, Wiluna, Wyndham-East Kimberley and Yalgoo.

\n```","sortOrder":9}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The instrument has expanded significantly beyond its original purpose of defining agricultural work for visa extensions. It began as a mechanism to address labour shortages in farming but has grown to encompass: (1) disaster response for multiple crisis events (bushfires, COVID-19, floods/cyclones) extending years beyond the immediate emergencies; (2) tourism and hospitality work in response to pandemic labour shortages; (3) construction and mining work; and (4) volunteer work (for bushfire recovery). The geographic scope has also expanded from simple 'regional Australia' to five distinct zone types with complex postcode mapping. The temporal scope now covers work performed across a 6+ year span (2019-2025+), with different eligibility windows for different crises."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple overlapping geographic zones (5 distinct area types: Regional Australia, Northern Australia, Remote/Very Remote, Bushfire affected, Flood/cyclone affected) with different postcode lists","Temporal conditions attached to specific work types (cut-off dates: 31 July 2019 for bushfire work, 31 January 2020 for COVID work, 21 June 2021 for tourism, 31 December 2021 for flood recovery)","Bifurcated structure where work types are defined in sections 5-8A but geographic boundaries are in Schedule 1, requiring cross-referencing","Inconsistent treatment of geographic scope – some work types specify 'Regional Australia' while others use specific postcodes or 'each area of Australia'","Nested definitions: 'Regional Australia' means postcodes in Item 3 of Schedule 1, but section 5(1) adds a further condition that the work must be mentioned in subsection (2)","Extensive postcode lists in Schedule 1 with some apparent errors (e.g., '2832 to 283' in Item 4 appears truncated, '4470, , 4474' has double comma)","Amendment provisions (sections 9-10) that apply retrospectively to pending applications, creating temporal jurisdiction questions","Distinguishing between 'specified' work and 'specified areas' – the instrument specifies both but the relationship varies by section"],"plain_english_summary":"This law sets out what counts as 'specified work' for backpackers on Working Holiday visas (subclass 417). If you do this work in the right places, you can apply for a second or third year on your visa.\n\n**What work counts:**\n\n- **Farming and related work** – picking fruit, pruning vines, shearing sheep, dairy work, fishing, and tree felling (but only in 'Regional Australia')\n- **Construction and mining** – building work and mining operations (also only in Regional Australia)\n- **Tourism and hospitality** – hotel work, cafes, restaurants, bars, tour guiding, and tourist transport (but only in Northern Australia, remote areas, or specific postcodes like 4406, 4416, 4498 and 7215, and only if done after 21 June 2021)\n- **Bushfire recovery** – rebuilding and helping communities hit by the 2019-2020 bushfires (paid or volunteer work, done after 31 July 2019)\n- **COVID-19 healthcare work** – nursing, medical treatment, contact tracing, testing, and cleaning medical facilities (anywhere in Australia, done after 31 January 2020)\n- **Flood and cyclone recovery** – clean-up and rebuilding after floods, cyclones or severe weather (done after 31 December 2021 in designated disaster areas)\n\n**Where you must do the work:**\nThe law divides Australia into zones with different rules:\n- **Regional Australia** – most of Australia outside major cities (specific postcodes listed)\n- **Northern Australia** – parts of Queensland, Western Australia and all of Northern Territory\n- **Remote and Very Remote Australia** – isolated areas with specific postcodes\n- **Bushfire affected areas** – specific local councils hit by the Black Summer fires\n- **Flood/cyclone affected areas** – specific local councils hit by recent severe weather\n\n**Why this matters:**\nWorking Holiday visa holders usually get one year in Australia. To get a second or third year, they must complete 3 or 6 months of 'specified work' in regional areas. This instrument defines exactly what work qualifies and exactly where it must be done. The rules change based on when you did the work and which disaster or region you're helping."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":7,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The instrument originally focused on agricultural, mining, and construction work in regional areas. Over time, its scope has broadened significantly to include tourism/hospitality, bushfire recovery, critical COVID-19 health work, and flood/cyclone recovery. The geographic definitions have also expanded to cover more areas. This expansion shifts the instrument from a narrow specification of traditional seasonal work to a broader disaster response and economic stimulus tool."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple categories of work (fishing, cultivation, construction, mining, tourism, bushfire, COVID, flood) each with their own conditions","Geographic definitions split across four categories (Regional, Northern, Remote/Very Remote, plus specific postcodes and LGA lists) with overlapping coverage","Schedule 1 contains extensive tables of postcodes and local government areas, making it difficult to quickly determine eligibility","Date conditions attached to some work types (e.g., tourism work after 21 June 2021, bushfire after 31 July 2019, COVID after 31 Jan 2020, flood after 31 Dec 2021)","Cross-references to regulations (reg 1.03, reg 1.15FAA) and to other amending instruments (LIN 24/020, 25/048)","Nested definitions: 'bushfire affected area', 'Northern Australia', 'Regional Australia', 'Remote and Very Remote Australia' are themselves defined by the schedules","Application provisions for amendments add complexity about when changes apply to pending applications"],"plain_english_summary":"This legal instrument specifies which jobs and locations count as 'specified work' for a Subclass 417 Working Holiday visa holder. A visa holder must do specified work in specified areas to get a second or third year visa.\n\n**What work counts?**\n- Fishing and pearling (catching fish, culturing pearls)\n- Plant and animal cultivation (harvesting fruit, pruning vines, packing, shearing, dairy processing)\n- Tree farming and felling (planting, tending, cutting, transporting)\n- Construction (building, civil engineering, site prep)\n- Mining (coal, metal ore, oil/gas, exploration)\n- Tourism and hospitality (hotels, cafes, tour guides – only in certain areas)\n- Bushfire recovery work (clean-up, rebuilding – in fire-affected areas since July 2019)\n- Critical COVID-19 health work (medical treatment, testing, cleaning – anywhere since Jan 2020)\n- Flood, cyclone, or severe weather recovery (clean-up, restoration – in affected areas since Dec 2021)\n\n**Where does it count?**\nThe instrument defines geographic areas by postcode or local government area:\n- **Regional Australia** – most of Australia outside major cities (e.g., most of NSW, Victoria, Queensland, all of South Australia, Tasmania, NT, Norfolk Island)\n- **Northern Australia** – parts of QLD, WA, and all NT\n- **Remote and Very Remote Australia** – even more isolated postcodes\n- **Bushfire affected areas** – specific areas listed in Schedule 1 (e.g., parts of ACT, NSW, VIC, etc.)\n- **Areas affected by flood, cyclone, or severe weather** – specific local government areas listed\n\n**Why it matters:** This instrument determines whether a backpacker's job qualifies them for a second or third year visa. Different work types are tied to different areas, and some have date cutoffs (e.g., bushfire work only after July 2019, COVID work after Jan 2020). The instrument has been updated over time (including amendments in 2024 and 2025) to add new types of work and areas."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/migration-specified-work-and-areas-for-subclass-417-visas-instrument-lin-22-012-2022","history":"/api/acts/migration-specified-work-and-areas-for-subclass-417-visas-instrument-lin-22-012-2022/history","analysis":"/api/acts/migration-specified-work-and-areas-for-subclass-417-visas-instrument-lin-22-012-2022/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/migration-specified-work-and-areas-for-subclass-417-visas-instrument-lin-22-012-2022/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/migration-specified-work-and-areas-for-subclass-417-visas-instrument-lin-22-012-2022/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/migration-specified-work-and-areas-for-subclass-417-visas-instrument-lin-22-012-2022/documents"}}