Tourism Midwest Victoria has backed calls by the Opposition to scrap a so-called ‘holiday and tourism tax’.
The State Government levy will add 7.5% onto the cost of short-stay accommodation bookings, despite such purchases already being subject to GST.
Chairman of the tourism industry body, John Pandazopolous, says he doesn’t believe it’ll help solve the housing crisis.
“We don’t support the tax. We don’t think it’s going to meet the objectives of government and it’s just an extra way to get money,” he said.
“It’s not going to build a lot of social housing [and] there’s no guarantee the money’s going to come back out to the region’s where they collect it.”