Airbnb calls for Victorian short-stay accommodation laws to be expanded and urgently passed

AIRBNB and other short-stay accommodation websites are demanding a government crackdown on wild party houses be expanded and accelerated after a two-year delay.

AIRBNB and other short-stay accommodation websites are demanding a government crackdown on wild party houses be expanded and accelerated after a two-year delay.

The Andrews Government’s proposed laws — which would see unruly guests fined, upset neighbours compensated and notorious rentals shut down — only apply to apartments.

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A 72-year-old man outside a Hawthorn East home where he was attacked after a wild house party. Picture: Aaron Francis (The Australian)

But short-stay providers, including Airbnb, say the tough new requirements should be expanded to all homes and properties, in the wake of several out-of-control parties across Melbourne.

They are crying out for the government to urgently push the laws through Parliament, two years after the plan was announced, but Consumer Affairs Minister Marlene Kairouz sidestepped questions about when the Bill would be brought to a vote.

Airbnb’s head of public policy Brent Thomas said the company was a “vocal champion of tough but fair anti-party house laws in Victoria” to deter and punish bad behaviour.

“We are again urging the Victorian Parliament to pass these laws as a priority,” he said.

HomeAway, another short-stay website which hosts Stayz, also backed the laws and called for them to be expanded to all accommodation listings, not just apartments.

“We strongly support a statewide regulatory response that contains a three strikes disciplinary regime for poor behaviour, a simple registration scheme for all listings, and an industry body to adjudicate questions of amenity, noise and overcrowding,” HomeAway corporate and government affairs director Eacham Curry said.

The Hastings Rd home in Hawthorn East was extensively damaged with broken windows at the front and rear of the property. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

The Bill is one of several caught in a growing backlog in the Legislative Council, which is already holding extended sittings in an effort to catch up.

But with just five parliamentary sitting weeks left before November’s state election, the government faces an uphill battle to complete its legislative agenda.

Ms Kairouz accused the Opposition of “dragging their feet” and said the government’s laws were “ready to go”.

“Matthew Guy needs to get out of the way so we can better protect Victorians from damage and bad behaviour from short-stay guests,” she said.

The Coalition had opposed the Bill and forced a parliamentary inquiry, which delivered its report in June last year.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy this week criticised Mr Andrews for failing to pass the legislation and said: “The Liberal Nationals support tougher laws to protect the owners of Airbnb apartments.”

“We need to urgently bring in laws to protect these innocent homeowners and their neighbours,” he said.

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