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■ Northern Victoria MLC Wendy Lovell told Parliament last week that the Allan Labor Government’s new Short Stay Levl (Airbnb Tax) is the 5th new or increased tax on Victorians since entering Government in 2014. “Of course we all remember Daniel Andrews standing on the steps saying there will be no new taxes or charges, but here we are 55 new or increased taxes later with Labor introducing the short-stay levy tax,” Ms Lovell told the Legislative Council. “The bill will impose a 7.5 per cent levy on all non-commercial short-stay accommodation in Victoria from January 1, 2025 – right in the middle of the very busy holiday period. “When Victorian families are taking their summer holidays they will be receiving a Christmas gift from the Allan Labor Government of being slugged with a new holiday tax. “At a time when small businesses and the tourism industry in Victoria have still not fully recovered from Daniel Andrews’s COVID lockdowns, the Treasurer of this state has now decided to kick them while they are down by imposing a holiday and tourism tax. “The levy will apply to every stay of less than 28 days and will be charged on the total booking fee, including accommodation costs as well as all service and cleaning fees and credit card charges. “The levy must be paid by the owner or renter of the property if the booking is taken directly or paid by the online platform if the booking is made through a platform such as Airbnb or Stayz. “The Liberals will be opposing this bill and if elected to government in 2026 will abolish Labor’s holiday tax. “The Parliamentary Budget Office report on the levy says that short-stay accommodation is disproportionately represented in regional areas. The report estimates that 52 per cent of shortstay properties are in metropolitan Melbourne and the remaining 48 per cent are in regional Victoria.
● Wendy Lovell MLC “This reflects the fact that short-stay accommodation is predominantly used for tourism, especially in the regions. “Modelling shows that the 7.5 per cent levy will add about $156 to the average short stay. “For families on a tight budget $156 is a lot of money. And that is $156 that will no longer be spent on breakfast at a cafe, buying souvenirs, summer hats or T-shirts or visiting local attractions, so other businesses will also miss out. “Other businesses in our border towns, in our tourist towns will be affected because of this tax. “That is $156 that will not be spent in small businesses and tourist areas because it is going into government coffers to pay back the massive debt that Labor has incurred on billions of dollars of Big Build blowouts,” Ms Lovell said.
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