BOB’S STATE OF UNITY
Mayor gets all Queensland councils to back tourism levy push
CAIRNS Mayor Bob Manning has put together a coalition of the willing in his campaign to bring in a tourism levy for the region.
The Local Government Association of Queensland has revealed unanimous backing for the policy from all 77 councils in the state for the introduction of a per-visitor, per-night levy.
THE campaign to allow councils to charge a visitor-based tourism levy now has the support of every local government in Queensland.
Cairns Regional Council Mayor Bob Manning’s oneman crusade to recast the state’s tourism marketing model has snowballed into something much bigger as the October 31 state election draws near.
It now has unanimous backing from all 77 councils in the state, as outlined in a letter from Local Government Association of Queensland chief executive officer Greg Hallam to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
The document, obtained by the Cairns Post, states local governments are willing to cop any reaction that may be caused by the introduction of a per-visitor, per-night levy – thereby taking politics out of the equation during a sensitive election year. “May I conclude by saying that the LGAQ and councils are more than prepared to wear any political opprobrium the introduction of such a levy might cause,” Mr Hallam said.
Neither Labor nor the LNP has committed to introducing the requisite Local Government Act amendment, although Cairns MP Michael Healy and Tourism Minister Kate Jones have voiced inprinciple support.
Treasurer Cameron Dick said the government was committed to working through “complicated issues” involved in having a state law implemented at a local level.
“However we will continue to work through those issues and when a decision is made, we’ll announce that,” he said.
Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington said the LiberalNationals had a no-new-taxes policy.
“We need to encourage people to be able to travel with what little money they have left in their pockets, and we want them to experience this great state of ours,” she said.
“I think it’s a lot to ask to make people pay extra money for their accommodation.”