Thursday, 31 October 2024

 Tim BULL (Gippsland East) (10:04): I wish to raise a concern on behalf of caravan park operators in my electorate and I am sure in other areas around the state, and that is the impact that free camping will have on their businesses. They are not opposed to the incentive to have people spending more time in the outdoors, but a number of caravan parks in my area are located near campgrounds, and to provide free camping basically adjacent to them will significantly impact their bottom line and their viability. Just five years ago my area lost a full summer through the bushfires and then it was straight into COVID, so they are still very much in a recovery phase, those businesses. And now we have no recompense or communications with that sector in relation to this decision. In addition, I have got one caravan park operator whose land tax bill has gone from under $500 to over $2500 in the last 12 ‍months. With free camping and the loss of business he will incur there, he is considering shutting up shop.