Labor’s park permit system is the perfect infrastructure for a Territory Lifestyle Tax, according to Shadow Minister for Tourism and Hospitality Marie-Clare Boothby.
The Fyles Government’s “masterplan” charges visitors for a permit every time they visit one of 50 parks, nature reserves and recreational areas in the Northern Territory.
“Labor is rolling out an online architecture for taxing lifestyle, which needs to be viewed in context with their stated budget position,” Ms Boothby said.
Last week Labor’s Business Minister Paul Kirby said “everything is under threat on a daily basis in the Northern Territory with our budget”.
“Territorians have every right to assume this tourist tax will soon be expanded to include locals,” Ms Boothby said.
“Labor’s $9 billion debt is costing more than a million dollars a day so Natasha Fyles is desperate to claw back money from wherever she can.
“Territorians know they can’t trust Labor or a government that has proved incapable of fixing the budget by growing the economy. The only tool they know how to use is new taxes.”
In 2019, then-Treasurer Nicole Manison announced that park fees were part of the NT Government’s plan to repair the debt-stricken budget.
But the idea was widely opposed, including by Labor’s Member for Lingiari, Marion Scrymgour (when she was Chief Executive of the NLC) “because of the negative effect that could have on the tourism industry, in particular the many Aboriginal tourism operators working in the NT Parks estate”.
Ms Boothby said the tourism industry hinged entirely on the Territory’s natural wonders, which were also the main attraction for locals.
“Taxing visitation to 50 parks, reserves and recreational areas in the Territory is so broad, it’s almost impossible to avoid,” she said.
“So if you’re a hunter, they’re coming after you. If you’re a fisher, they’re coming after you. If you just want to go for a picnic and swim at the dam on the weekend, they’re coming after you.”
Ms Boothby said Labor’s claim about the revenue being used to look after the parks was nothing more than a smokescreen to avoid public backlash.
“If it was about fixing the parks, they are six years late and they are broke because they have the wrong priorities,” she said.
“Labor turned its back on the environmental protection of Litchfield and hasn’t put the required investment into tourism so now they are putting pressure on tourists.
“This is at a time when tourism has been devastated by covid, lockdowns, and dealing with the high cost of Labor’s Crime Crisis.
“The Fyles government was so focused on wasting money they neglected important environmental issues, which is why we see Gamba grass taking over our parks.”
ENDS