The Nationals leader and Member for Murray Plains, Peter Walsh, says just when you thought Daniel Andrews had bled you dry, now he’s planning to tax you for sleeping.
Mr Walsh says regional Victoria’s already battered tourism industry now faces a ‘bed tax’ in hotels and short stay rentals.
He says Victorian Tourism Industry Council chief executive Felicia Mariani has told him the tourism spend across the state was already lagging behind NSW and Queensland.
“So why not kick an industry when it’s down in a disgraceful last gasp bid by Daniel Andrews to offset the financial basket case this is the Victorian economy,” Mr Walsh added.
“Even in Melbourne – the apple of Dan’s eye – the accommodation industry is up in arms saying this is one tax too many, and it will cause job losses and cut spending across the tourism/visitor board,” he says.
“With thousands of businesses there screaming blue murder – and more than 1200 have already written scathing protests to the Premier – you can imagine the ripple effect across regional areas.
“This latest stealth attack on the taxpayer’s hip pocket means any Victorian, let alone interstate or overseas visitor, who travels overnight to attend footy matches, shows, medical appointments or treat weekends will be slugged.
“And the knock-on effect will be cuts in discretionary spending when they do travel, supporting other businesses in the area.”
Mr Walsh says all the statistics show more than twice as many intrastate overnight trips are made by Victorians, rather than interstate travellers staying in our state.
He says he hasn’t met a business owner or operator yet who plans to absorb another round of taxes when you look what Daniel Andrews has done to their power bills alone.
“These costs will all go straight to the consumer because if a small business, in particular, adds another minus to its bottom line, it will potentially put them out of business,” Mr Walsh explains.
“Maybe this round of upcoming taxes is to pay for the Commonwealth Games, which, had they gone ahead, would almost have certainly filled hotels, motels and short-stay venues across regional Victoria,” he says.
“But once again our Premier has demonstrated his total incompetence in managing anything beyond his memory lapses at any inquiry into his bungling and blowouts – and it’s the taxpayer who gets to foot the bill again.
“That’s not really anything to give us a night of undisturbed sleep, is it Dan?”