Australia may scrap working holiday age limit

A proposed change to the Australian working holiday age limit would be good news for British gap year holidaymakers of all ages.

The Queensland tourism minister is pushing for the lifting of the current 18- to 30-year-old restriction for the 12-month holiday visa.

Desley Boyle pointed out that older workers, including baby boomers, may like the opportunity to work and travel in Australia and could solve the country's continuing skills shortage.

Australian Tourism Export Council managing director Matt Hingerty told AAP: "We, obviously, have a well-known labour crisis [and] our key [tourism] markets ... they're all ageing demographically, so it would make sense for our visa regime to move with those changes."

Ms Boyle has written to the federal immigration minister for support in changing the visa conditions to bring more skilled travellers to Australia.

Queensland is currently experiencing a 3.6 per cent unemployment rate, which is impacting on economic growth.