Life is set to get harder for regional communities, small businesses, visitors and Victorians on a weekend away as the Andrews Government seeks to impose a new Holiday and Tourism Tax.
This Holiday and Tourism Tax, the 50th new or increased tax or charge imposed by the Andrews Government since 2014, could add over $100 to the cost of a weekend away by charging consumers of short-stay accommodation at a rate of potentially up to 7.5 per cent.
Furthermore, the Andrews Government’s new Holiday and Tourism Tax will be the only tax on short-stay accommodation in Australia. This will make Victoria a less attractive destination for international and interstate visitors and threaten the $5 billion spent each year in Victoria alone on overnight accommodation.
Shadow Minister for Tourism, Sam Groth, said: “Under the Andrews Government, Victoria is broke and Daniel Andrews is now punishing regional communities that rely on tourism to pay for his overdue housing reforms.
“Every dollar spent on the Andrews Government’s new Holiday and Tourism Tax is one less dollar being spent on local retail, hospitality, events and tourism businesses across Victoria.
“Victorians who work hard to afford a weekend away shouldn’t be the ones to pay for the Andrews Government’s record debt or to fulfil a global company’s social responsibility.
“Adding yet another tax to Victoria’s nation-leading property taxes will only drive critical investment interstate and do nothing to address the fundamental causes of Victoria’s housing affordability crisis.”
