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Melina Bath slam Labor's 'Ghost Camping Policy', urges action to support regional tourism and fix booking failures

Melina Bath criticised Labor's flawed free camping policy, with "ghost camping" causing vacant sites, hurting tourism, and prompting renewed calls for booking penalties and fairer management of national parks.

By news@gippsland - 18th April 2025 - Back to News

The Allan Labor government must urgently find a solution to its disastrous free camping policy, with "ghost camping" set to continue across the Easter holidays. Labor's free camping policy has resulted in people deliberately booking multiple camping sites and then failing to show up, knowing there are no consequences.

Melina Bath said ghost camping harms small businesses, as vacant sites are misused and genuine campers turned away, while Labor ignored real solutions and relied on ineffective text reminders

Empty campsites crisis

The mismanaged free camping in national parks policy resulted in occupancy rates as low as 35 to 50 percent in many national park campgrounds over the peak summer holiday period - and the alarming trend is set to continue this Easter. Shadow Minister for Public Land Management, Melina Bath, has reiterated calls for Labor to take action.

Ms Bath said the empty camping sites were impacting small businesses, which depend on increased cash flow from campers. "Labor's policy has resulted in people deliberately booking multiple sites and no consequence for 'no shows'. People are taking advantage of the system by securing multiple sites and leaving them vacant for added space and comfort."

"By contrast campers who arrive without a booking are being refused a site by Parks Victoria staff despite the park campgrounds being half empty. Without penalties, 'ghost camping' will continue to negatively impact our regional economy and cause enormous frustration for those campers who miss out," Ms Bath said.

Fix ghost camping

The Liberals and Nationals have been calling for a raft of potential changes to improve the fairness including refundable deposits and the issuing of penalties for failing to cancel a booking as is the case in Queensland.

Ms Bath said all practical suggestions to fix ghost camping had been dismissed by the Allan Labor government - and it has instead gone with an ineffective text message booking reminder. "It is typical of Labor to focus on the headline and not the ramifications of its policy. Labor can't manage the use of public land and Victorians are paying the price," Ms Bath said.

Pictures from Melina Bath MP Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com