The Australian government is increasing the number of working holiday visas by 20% to cope with an expected jobs bonanza during the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

It plans to raise the quota from 65,000 to 78,000.

That will be good news for backpackers from the UK, who make up just over half of all working holidaymakers aged between 18 and 25.

Priority has to be given to Australian workers

Mark Carmichael

From July 2000, the scheme will be extended to include anyone under 30.

Employment experts in Sydney say there will be an extra 40,000 jobs available in the Olympic city during the games, which run from 15 September to 1 October next year.

One of the biggest areas is likely to be hospitality.

Mark Carmichael from the Recruitment Services Association says it is a great boost for backpackers looking for unskilled work.

But he warns locals will be first in the queue.

"What the government's philosophy is when it comes to Olympic jobs is that priority has to be given to Australian workers as a chance to get them back into the workforce on an on-going basis."

Crackdown

Others think the government has not gone far enough.

Michael Hall, owner of the Original Backpackers Lodge in the Kings Cross district of Sydney, says there are enough jobs for thousands more young travellers.

Backpackers wanting hospitality work will be in luck

"My forecast is that by the year 2001 we could quite comfortably take in excess of 100,000 people on working visas."

The increase in backpacker visas comes as the federal government announces a new crackdown on illegal workers in Australia.

Immigration Minister Phillip Ruddock is bringing in tough penalties for employers who take on people without the proper paperwork.

Sanctions include fines of up to $66,000 (£25,000) and up to two years in jail.