Gippsland › Latest news › Melina Bath MP

Allan Labor government's new Airbnb tax will take effect on 2025 will also raise rental costs, says Melina Bath

The Allan Labor government's new Airbnb tax, effective January 1, 2025, will increase costs for short-term rentals in eastern Victoria. Melina Bath criticised it as a tax grab harming local tourism and property investors.

By news@gippsland - 4th September 2024 - Back to News

The Allan Labor government's new Airbnb tax will make renting a holiday home in eastern Victoria's popular tourist destinations more expensive. Labor's new tax comes into effect 1 January 2025. The Nationals' Member for Eastern Victoria, Melina Bath said Labor's short stay levy bill which increases the cost of staying in short term rentals is another tax grab.

Airbnb tax adds to existing property taxes and fees, increasing costs for families seeking affordable holiday rentals in eastern Victoria

Airbnb tax burden

Ms Bath said, "Short term rental property owners will face a 7.5 per cent charge because Labor is scrambling to claw back its debt and meet its city based Big Build bills. Mum and dad investors who own a second property and rent it out for short stay accommodation will have to pay it. The Airbnb tax is on top of Labor's new property taxes and local government fees if your home is rented as short stay accommodation."

"Unfortunately, families who seek to rent an affordable holiday home in one of the many tourist destinations in eastern Victoria will be hit with a price rise to pay for the tax. Tourism is big business in the Bass Coast, South Gippsland, East Gippsland, Wellington Shire, Mornington Peninsula and our small mountain communities of Dargo, Walhalla and Omeo. Any downturn in tourism negatively impacts our regional businesses which rely on the influx of visitors during peak times for income," she said.

Ms Bath said Labor's aim is to force property investors to part ways with their second home or list them on the long term rental market to help alleviate the housing crisis. "Australian Bureau of Statistics figures for March 2024 revealed the number of new homes in Victoria hit a ten year low with only 51,462 new homes being started and 55,773 completed in the preceding 12 months. Labor can't manage money, can't manage housing and mum and dad property investors are now paying the price."

Pictures from Visit Gippsland website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com