It wasn’t quite the biggest bombshell of Victorian premier Daniel Andrews’ week, but his flagging of plans to introduce a 7.5 per cent tax on short-term holiday lettings (STHLs) sent a sizable shockwave through the tourism industry.

With hints that NSW may go down the same road, added to the state government’s endorsement of Byron Bay council’s 60-night limit on holiday lets, the days of open slather for STHLs are clearly over.