Tourist tax proposed for Gold Coast slammed by business bosses

The verdict is in and Gold Coasters have revealed what they really think of plans for a tourist tax. A business boss has slammed the idea as a “boot on the jugular” of the city.

The verdict is in and Gold Coasters have revealed what they really think of plans for a tourist tax.

Councillors from across the state attending the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) conference were asked to vote on whether laws should be changed to provide local governments with the ability to implement a visitor levy, also known as a tourist tax or bed tax.

Gold Coast councillors were among the 170 who voted in favour of the motion, with only 30 against.

The LGAQ will now ask the Palaszczuk Government to act on the recommendation by preparing new legislation.

But a Bulletin poll has revealed those surveyed were against the plan.

Of the 71 people surveyed, 68 per cent were against a tax, while 32 were in favour.

Surprise support for Gold Coast tourist tax

THE Gold Coast’s peak tourism body has backed plans for a tourist tax.

Councillors from across the state attending the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) conference were asked to vote on whether laws should be changed to provide local governments with the ability to implement a visitor levy, also known as a tourist tax or bed tax.

Gold Coast councillors were among the 170 who voted in favour of the motion, with only 30 against.

The LGAQ will now ask the Palaszczuk Government to act on the recommendation by preparing new legislation.

Destination GC Chair Adrienne Readings. Picture Glenn Hampson

Destination Gold Coast chairwoman Adrienne Readings said it was an idea worth considering. “Destination Gold Coast in-principle supports the progression of an investigation into a visitor levy for Queensland for Destination tourism marketing and events,” she said.

“Covid has been the catalyst for many industries to look at new ways to remain sustainable and Destination Gold Coast welcomes further discussion between LGAQ and the State around this and for industry to have their input.

“This is not a new concept to the Gold Coast, and through the Tourism and Economic Diversification Component of the general rate collected by the City of Gold Coast, has supported the region with the funding to continually reinvest in destination marketing and grow the visitor economy into a $5.9bn industry that attracts over 14 million people from across the world.”

The conference motion has been condemned by the Gold Coast’s peak business group, which has urged the state government against backing the proposal.

Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce president Martin Hall has slammed the idea and urged councillors against backing it.

TOURIST TAX A ‘BOOT ON THE JUGULAR’ FOR GOLD COAST BUSINESSES

TOURISTS will be charged a levy to stay on the Gold Coast under a proposal backed by city leaders.

Councillors from across the state attending the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) conference were asked to vote on whether laws should be changed to provide local governments with the ability to implement a visitor levy, also known as a tourist tax or bed tax.

Gold Coast councillors were among the 170 who voted in favour of the motion, with only 30 against.

The LGAQ will now ask the Palaszczuk Government to act on the recommendation by preparing new legislation.

But business leaders are furious, warning the introduction of a visitor levy would put “the boot on the jugular” of the city’s fragile tourism sector.

Southport-based councillor Brooke Patterson, who is at the conference, spoke during the debate.

Councillor Brooke Patterson. Picture Glenn Hampson

Councillor Patterson told the Bulletin: “Gold Coast voted in favour at LGAQ after an email straw poll among all our Gold Coast councillors before we left for (the) convention.”

Asked how much tourists would be charged and how it would be done and when, Cr Patterson responded that it was “early days”.

“This motion is to start the conversation with the State,” she added.

The conference motion has been condemned by the Gold Coast’s peak business group, which has urged the state government against backing the proposal.

A furious Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce president Martin Hall said any fresh tax

Martin Hall. Picture Glenn Hampson

would be a disincentive for visitors to come to the city and “put a boot on the throat” of operators.

“Doing this in an already fragile economy is not a good move because we do not want to make the art of doing business any harder than it already is,” he said.

“As the peak industry group, we have not been consulted or even asked our opinion by anyone at council and that speaks volumes for the level of disconnection from the City which needs to be addressed.”

It is the second time in a decade that a visitor charge has been proposed for the city.

In 2014, then-Gold Coast Tourism chairman Paul Donovan told councillors a “bed tax” was necessary and inevitable to help pay for infrastructure upgrades.

“We need to look globally at models used around the world to see what could work here,” he said in May that year.

It’s not the first time a visitor charge has been proposed. Picture Glenn Hampson.

“There certainly needs to be a user-pays levy so we can capture some funding from all the people who come to enjoy our facilities.”

Mayor Tom Tate that year also wrote to then-local government minister David Crisafulli asking the then-Newman Government to consider altering state legislation to allow a bed tax on visitors to the city.

Nothing came of the idea, with the Newman Government swept from power six months later and concept considered unpalatable by a majority of councillors at the time.

Cr Patterson argues that the important part of the motion was any funding raised by the charge would go to the council and not the state government.

On her Facebook page, Cr Patterson posted: “It is about ‘user pays’ and taking unnecessary burden off rate payers. After a healthy debate, I am delighted to see it get up with a convincing majority.”

Residents in responses have begun asking how the system would work.