General News
2 October, 2023
B&Bs brace for bed tax detail, fear visitor downturn
LODDON tourist accommodation owners are fearing a downturn in visitors after the State Government last week announced a 7.5 per cent levy on holiday stays. The Government said almost half Victoria’s 36,000 short stay accommodation was in regional...
LODDON tourist accommodation owners are fearing a downturn in visitors after the State Government last week announced a 7.5 per cent levy on holiday stays.
The Government said almost half Victoria’s 36,000 short stay accommodation was in regional Victoria but just 25 per cent of money collected would be spent in the country to ease a shortage of social and affordable housing in the state.
And Premier Daniel Andrews said; “If people use it (short-stay accommodation) they will pay 7.5 per cent (levy).”
Mr Andrews said the State Revenue Office would work through how to collect the levy from whatever booking platform was used by short-stay holiday rental operators.
He also said the Government was already investing more in regional housing than the levy would raise.
Details of the spend in Loddon Shire was requested from the Government.
However, operator of Rostrata Country House at Murphys Creek, Dorothy Silke, said: “I don’t think the levy is going to solve the housing problem.”
“There will be people, particularly families, that will not be able to afford a higher cost and they won’t come to our area,” she said.
“There’ll be a flow on to cafes and hotels ... a knock to local tourism.”
Cleo Lanyon, of Boort’s NAB&B, said: “It (the levy) is just another hit at people having a go.”
Murray Plains MP Peter Walsh said the bed tax ripped off country Victoria with almost half the accommodation but not levy return. “This isn’t a fair and equitable tax; this is highway robbery by a crooked government.”
Mr Walsh said social housing was just as critical in regional Victoria as it was for the Premier to hand out to people in the city.