Queensland slams Turnbull tourism tax hike

Acting Treasurer and Tourism Minister Kate Jones has slammed the Federal Government’s blatant cash grab after jacking-up Australia’s Passenger Movement Charge by $5 – which will see every passenger exiting the country forced to pay $60 as part of their airline ticket.

“This is a slap in the face to the tourism industry,” Ms Jones said.

Speaking from the Gold Coast, Ms Jones said Federal Tourism Minister Steve Ciobo had been silent on the increase despite arguing against an increase to the passenger levy three years ago.

“Increasing this tax on tourism is anti-competitive, counterproductive and frankly unacceptable.  The Minister knows this, so why isn’t he standing up for the tourism industry?" Ms Jones said.

“We’ve gone from backpacker tax to a tourism tax.”

Ms Jones said the increase the passenger levy could not have come at a worse time.

“Tourism in Queensland is booming.  As a Government, we have attracted additional international flights into Queensland and been working closely with the industry to achieve double-digit growth in our tourist arrivals from overseas,” the Minister said.

International visitation in the 12 months to June 2016 grew a further 11 per cent with 2.5 million visitors generating $5.1 billion in overnight expenditure.

“We have seen growth from the Asian markets of China, Japan, Taiwan and Korea and Western markets of Germany, USA and New Zealand,” she said.

“Brisbane and the Gold Coast had the largest international visitation numbers on record, reaching 1.17 million and 984,000 visitors respectively. Overnight visitor expenditure on the Gold Coast reached a record $1.3 billion and the Sunshine Coast also hit historic highs of $245 million.”

“The nine per cent hike in the passenger movement charge will see every single person flying out of Australia pay $60 on top of their ticket price, that’s the second highest charge in the world after the United Kingdom.”

“I will stand by Queensland’s tourism industry in their fight against this ill-conceived idea that’s gone through absolutely no consultation or review.

“The tourism industry is not Canberra’s cash cow and Steve Ciobo can’t stand by and let this happen.

“The tourism industry should not be used to placate the National Party from defecting to One Nation.

“The internal party bickering between the Liberals and the Nationals has to end so that Australian businesses can invest and make strategic plans for the future based on sensible, stable Government policies.”

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