NT government park fees plan is plain ridiculous
APART from anger and hostility, what does the Gunner government think it will get out of its decision to go ahead with plans to charge park entry and camping fees to Litchfield and other Territory parks?
Opinion
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APART from anger and hostility, what does the Gunner government think it will get out of its decision to go ahead with plans to charge park entry and camping fees to Litchfield and other Territory parks?
It will be interesting to see how much revenue it believes it will raise as opposed to the damage it will cause to an industry on stimulus life support.
The NT Newsrevealed the Gunner government’s plans to introduce entrance fees back in early 2019.
The revenue-raising measures were part of its Budget Repair Plan and when announced it caused outrage within the tourism industry and business sector.
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Not surprisingly the controversial plans to charge park entry and camping fees disappeared into the ether in the 2020 election year.
Now with another four years until the next election the plan is about to become reality.
The government’s line is that our parks are valuable Territory assets and collecting fees, which is common practice across the world, recognises their value in terms of conservation and visitation and ensures they can be maintained to a high standard.
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That of course is just nonsense spin and does not cut it. Territorians must be given the fact-based evidence to support park entrance fees.
Our parks are free to all of us and it should stay that way. If the Gunner government wants to upset people this is the perfect way to do it.
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