Backing for visitor levy

Councils approve but LNP reject ‘bed tax’

THE Cairns tourism industry has welcomed statewide backing for a visitor-based levy, but that consensus might not be enough to take politics out of the debate.

A letter from the Local Government Association of Queensland’s chief executive Greg Hallam to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk earlier this year, obtained by the Cairns Post, showed unanimous support for the Cairns levy from all Queensland council district representatives.

Cairns Mayor Bob Manning has spearheaded the push for the so-called “bed tax” which also has in-principle support from Tourism Minister Kate Jones and Cairns MP Michael Healy.

“This situation (coronavirus) is totally unprecedented and we need every cent,” Mr Healy said.

“I indicated to the Premier we’d be very keen to see what sort of proposal it’d look like because it’d be good for jobs and for our region’s capacity to compete.”

Mr Healy said that, while this initiative should not be politicised, he said he was “dumbfounded” that the LNP said no to it.

“This is an initiative by the regional council and there is no greater example of a group of people that just don’t listen,” he said.

But Cairns LNP candidate Sam Marino said his party did not support new taxes.

“The best way to get tourists back to Cairns is through a destination marketing campaign and certainty from the government about opening

Queensland’s borders,” Mr

Marino said.

Mr Hallam said that, while there was support for Cairns to amend the Local Government Act to allow a council to implement the levy, there was no move for such a levy to be extended beyond Cairns.

“Mayor Manning has been in talks with his community, local tourism industry and the State Government regarding his proposal for some time and requested the support of the policy executive,” Mr Hallam said.

“The support given by the LGAQ policy executive was specific to Cairns.”

Passions of Paradise’s managing director Alan Wallish said the proposed levy was a “necessary step” and needed bipartisan support.

Mr Wallish said the pandemic had brought tourism in Cairns “to a screaming stop”.

“The levy is a fair and equitable way to gain a very small impost from the tourist in return for a significant return in our promotional reach,” he said.

Mr Wallish also said removing state politics from the equation was a “wise move” and that both sides of politics should support it.

However, Cairns Visitor Centre’s director Melody Forgan said she did not support it.

“Now is not the time for the council to try to grab additional money from tourists when the industry is struggling,” she said. “A levy wouldn’t be helpful. Every time we impose a levy, we find new ways to waste funds.”

She also said she would rather see direct State Government funding into regional tourism.