Farmers and backpackers are angry that the department of immigration has suddenly brought forward its decision by several months and without any consultation to stop recognising volunteer work for the purposes extending the sc417 working holiday visa.

The ban which came into effect on 31 August 2015, disallows the counting of volunteer work as part of the 88 days of work required to extend the sc417 visa by a year. The DIBP said the ban was necessary to stop the alleged widespread abuse of the sc417 visa programme.

Producers involved in the Willing Workers on Organic Farms (WWOOF) scheme are however angry with DIBP sudden decision to implement the change which was announced in May this year with an expected date of implementation set to be in or about December.

“It's virtually shut down our ability to provide food to our local community in the quantity and the standard that we've been doing….We were of the understanding several months ago that the Assistant Minister [for Immigration and Border Protection] wouldn't make a decision until Christmas time or roughly around Christmas time," said Mike Smith, Solum Farm, Mororo – a New South Wales north coast organic farm.

"So we told all our young people 'so this is what's going to happen, we're going to push to make sure it doesn't happen but in the interim it gets you right through until Christmas, so finish your 88 days because they've said that's okay'.

WWOOF essentially link backpackers to organic farmers by giving them the opportunity to work on Australian organic farms, exchanging 4 - 6 hours work per day for meals and accommodation, usually in the farmer’s family home.

Mr Smith told the ABC that his farm has workers who have completed 60 to 70 days of voluntary work towards their second year visa.

"That left them in a position where they now have to go another area or they have to find paid work within the agricultural industry, or an industry that fits the criteria, and get a payslip otherwise they can't finish their 88 days," he said.

"The biggest problem with that is in our valley, the Clarence Valley, it's going to be very difficult for them to finish those days off.