SYKES – DEFENDS LOCAL CARAVAN PARKS AND OUR DISADVANTAGED

The Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes, opposed the Government’s flawed Residential Tenancies (Further Amendment) Bill in Parliament last week in the interest of local caravan park owners and the region’s disadvantaged people.

Dr Sykes debated the Bill in Parliament last week and addressed the detrimental reduction to the qualifying period for a person to be categorised as a resident, having a negative impact on caravan park management.

Dr Sykes said, “Reducing the period for accommodation to be treated as residential from 90 days to 60 days threatens those most disadvantaged in our community.

“Our concern is that these changes will deter some caravan park owners from providing crisis accommodation and transitional housing, which is currently common place in country Victoria.

“Caravan park owners were not even consulted about this and now they must treat all guests staying longer than 60 days as residents.

“I have received a great deal of correspondence from local caravan park operators who are concerned that this Bill will significantly impact on their ability to operator their business effectively. It is seen as complicating their ability to make reservations at particular site for tourists.

“Given that tourism is so important to Northeast Victoria, with its absolutely fantastic natural assets, we want to make sure that we are not endangering our ability to provide tourist accommodation.

“To put the significance of this Bill for our region into perspective I highlight the tourist in-flow in Bright, for example. Whilst it is a beautiful place to visit any time of the year, the population in Bright, during autumn, swells from 5,000 to 30,000.

“We rely very heavily on tourism and people visiting the area. If caravan park operators and providers of low-cost accommodation are concerned about the impact of this legislation, those concerns need to be listened to by this Government.

“This Bill will go through to the Upper House where The Nationals will vigorously oppose it again. I implore the Government to look hard at the honourable intentions of the Bill versus the unintended implications… realise the balance is wrong and apply some common sense!

Dr Sykes concluded, “Mr Bracks you have failed to consult country Victorians again!

Media contact: Bill Sykes (03) 5762 2100 or 0427 624 989