Community
11 September, 2024
Holiday tax concerning
MEMBER for Polwarth Richard Riordan said towns along the Great Ocean Road were once again being targeted to help fix the state’s “budget black hole”.
He raised concerns about the new Short Stay Tax set to be debated in parliament this week.
Mr Riordan said the state government plans to add a 7.5 per cent tax on to the cost of a short-term holiday stay.
He said, unlike other taxes, this tax would be added after all other charges were added to the cost of a stay.
Mr Riordan said the proposed legislation also allowed local governments to add extra costs.
“Our already struggling coastal towns will see visitors with hundreds of dollars less to spend on activities and food as the cost of accommodation will surge well above the inflation rate,” he said.
“The State Government has given no guarantees that our coastal communities will see any benefit from this big new holiday tax.
“A new tax on accommodation and holidays will never solve a big problem, it will only create an incentive for holidays makers to cross the boarder and go elsewhere.”
Mr Riordan said the Great Ocean Road was “desperate for investment and high value visitors”.
“Increased land tax and now short-term holiday taxes only serve to scare people from the Great Ocean Road, and supercharge low value day visits over multi day stay tourism,” he said.