Should Victoria abolish the 7.5% levy on short-stay bookings of under 28 days, such as Airbnb stays?
Short-stay accommodation levy
Both houses · 5 votes
Background
The Short Stay Levy Bill 2024 created a levy (an extra charge) of 7.5% of the total booking fee on stays of less than 28 days in short-stay accommodation, for bookings made from 1 January 2025. A person's main home, hotels, motels, caravan parks and some other listed accommodation are excluded, and owners corporations may ban short-stay use of apartments that are not someone's main home. The Government said the money goes to Homes Victoria for social and affordable housing, with 25% for regional Victoria.
What each side said
Summarised from the debate in Parliament, with sources below.
For “agree”
Those who want the levy abolished said no modelling showed it would add long-term rentals and that it would hurt regional tourism and hosts: "This tax will not solve the housing crisis in Victoria" (Brad Rowswell, Liberal, 11 Sep 2024). The Coalition sought exemptions for people with disability, people fleeing family violence and medical travellers, and said it would repeal the levy (Evan Mulholland, Liberal, 17 Oct 2024); the Libertarian Party opposed any new tax (David Limbrick). One Nation, the Shooters and Moira Deeming (now Family First) also voted on this side.
For “disagree”
Supporters of the levy said short-stay use takes homes out of long-term renting and the levy would encourage owners to rent them long-term, with the money going to Homes Victoria for social and affordable housing: the aim was "to encourage the return of more properties to the long-term rental market" (Treasurer Tim Pallas, ALP, second reading, 28 Aug 2024). The Greens backed it with the owners-corporation powers they negotiated (Gabrielle de Vietri, 11 Sep 2024), and Legalise Cannabis said short stays are reducing housing supply (Rachel Payne). Animal Justice also voted on this side.
How the parties voted
Across the linked votes below. Second and third readings count five times as much as other votes. Parties are in alphabetical order. How this is worked out
| Party | Record | Votes with a party position |
|---|---|---|
| Animal Justice | Consistently against | 2 of 2 |
| Greens | Consistently against | 5 of 5 |
| Labor | Consistently against | 5 of 5 |
| Legalise Cannabis | Consistently against | 2 of 2 |
| Liberal | Consistently for | 5 of 5 |
| Libertarian | Consistently for | 2 of 2 |
| Nationals | Consistently for | 5 of 5 |
| One Nation | Consistently for | 2 of 2 |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | Consistently for | 1 of 2 |
The votes behind this question
Each vote (division) recorded in Parliament that this question is based on, in date order.
12 September 2024 · Legislative Assembly
Short Stay Levy Bill 2024
- Question put
- Question — That the words proposed to be omitted stand part of the question — put.
- Result
- Question agreed to. Ayes 51, Noes 24.
- Matches “agree”
- A No vote
- Weight
- Normal
- Why it's linked
- Assembly reasoned amendment moved by Brad Rowswell; the question was whether to keep the words "be now read a second time". Aye = reject the amendment (let the bill proceed); agree = No.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greens | 4 | 0 | Aye |
| Labor | 47 | 0 | Aye |
| Liberal | 0 | 17 | No |
| Nationals | 0 | 7 | No |
Every name (Ayes 51, Noes 24) in the vote of 12 September 2024
Ayes (51)
Juliana Addison, Jacinta Allan, Colin Brooks, Josh Bull, Anthony Carbines, Ben Carroll, Anthony Cianflone, Sarah Connolly, Chris Couzens, Jordan Crugnale, Lily D'Ambrosio, Daniela De Martino, Steve Dimopoulos, Paul Edbrooke, Matt Fregon, Ella George, Luba Grigorovitch, Bronwyn Halfpenny, Katie Hall, Paul Hamer, Sam Hibbins, Mathew Hilakari, Natalie Hutchins, Lauren Kathage, Sonya Kilkenny, Nathan Lambert, Kathleen Matthews-Ward, Steve McGhie, Paul Mercurio, John Mullahy, Tim Pallas, Danny Pearson, Tim Read, Pauline Richards, Tim Richardson, Ellen Sandell, Michaela Settle, Ros Spence, Nick Staikos, Natalie Suleyman, Meng Heang Tak, Jackson Taylor, Nina Taylor, Kat Theophanous, Mary-Anne Thomas, Emma Vulin, Iwan Walters, Vicki Ward, Dylan Wight, Belinda Wilson, Gabrielle de Vietri
Noes (24)
Brad Battin, Jade Benham, Roma Britnell, Tim Bull, Martin Cameron, Chris Crewther, Wayne Farnham, Sam Groth, Matthew Guy, David Hodgett, Emma Kealy, Tim McCurdy, Cindy McLeish, James Newbury, Danny O'Brien, Michael O'Brien, John Pesutto, Richard Riordan, Brad Rowswell, David Southwick, Bridget Vallence, Peter Walsh, Kim Wells, Nicole Werner
Official record: Votes and Proceedings Nos 90 to 92 (LA-60-092-02)
12 September 2024 · Legislative Assembly
Short Stay Levy Bill 2024
- Question put
- Question — That this Bill be now read a second time — put.
- Result
- Question agreed to. Ayes 51, Noes 24.
- Matches “agree”
- A No vote
- Weight
- Strong: a second or third reading, counted five times
- Why it's linked
- Second reading (Assembly). Aye = support the bill; agree = No.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greens | 4 | 0 | Aye |
| Labor | 47 | 0 | Aye |
| Liberal | 0 | 17 | No |
| Nationals | 0 | 7 | No |
Every name (Ayes 51, Noes 24) in the vote of 12 September 2024
Ayes (51)
Juliana Addison, Jacinta Allan, Colin Brooks, Josh Bull, Anthony Carbines, Ben Carroll, Anthony Cianflone, Sarah Connolly, Chris Couzens, Jordan Crugnale, Lily D'Ambrosio, Daniela De Martino, Steve Dimopoulos, Paul Edbrooke, Matt Fregon, Ella George, Luba Grigorovitch, Bronwyn Halfpenny, Katie Hall, Paul Hamer, Sam Hibbins, Mathew Hilakari, Natalie Hutchins, Lauren Kathage, Sonya Kilkenny, Nathan Lambert, Kathleen Matthews-Ward, Steve McGhie, Paul Mercurio, John Mullahy, Tim Pallas, Danny Pearson, Tim Read, Pauline Richards, Tim Richardson, Ellen Sandell, Michaela Settle, Ros Spence, Nick Staikos, Natalie Suleyman, Meng Heang Tak, Jackson Taylor, Nina Taylor, Kat Theophanous, Mary-Anne Thomas, Emma Vulin, Iwan Walters, Vicki Ward, Dylan Wight, Belinda Wilson, Gabrielle de Vietri
Noes (24)
Brad Battin, Jade Benham, Roma Britnell, Tim Bull, Martin Cameron, Chris Crewther, Wayne Farnham, Sam Groth, Matthew Guy, David Hodgett, Emma Kealy, Tim McCurdy, Cindy McLeish, James Newbury, Danny O'Brien, Michael O'Brien, John Pesutto, Richard Riordan, Brad Rowswell, David Southwick, Bridget Vallence, Peter Walsh, Kim Wells, Nicole Werner
Official record: Votes and Proceedings Nos 90 to 92 (LA-60-092-03)
12 September 2024 · Legislative Assembly
Short Stay Levy Bill 2024
- Question put
- Question — That this Bill be now read a third time — put.
- Result
- Question agreed to. Ayes 51, Noes 24.
- Matches “agree”
- A No vote
- Weight
- Strong: a second or third reading, counted five times
- Why it's linked
- Third reading (Assembly). Aye = support the bill; agree = No.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greens | 4 | 0 | Aye |
| Labor | 47 | 0 | Aye |
| Liberal | 0 | 17 | No |
| Nationals | 0 | 7 | No |
Every name (Ayes 51, Noes 24) in the vote of 12 September 2024
Ayes (51)
Juliana Addison, Jacinta Allan, Colin Brooks, Josh Bull, Anthony Carbines, Ben Carroll, Anthony Cianflone, Sarah Connolly, Chris Couzens, Jordan Crugnale, Lily D'Ambrosio, Daniela De Martino, Steve Dimopoulos, Paul Edbrooke, Matt Fregon, Ella George, Luba Grigorovitch, Bronwyn Halfpenny, Katie Hall, Paul Hamer, Sam Hibbins, Mathew Hilakari, Natalie Hutchins, Lauren Kathage, Sonya Kilkenny, Nathan Lambert, Kathleen Matthews-Ward, Steve McGhie, Paul Mercurio, John Mullahy, Tim Pallas, Danny Pearson, Tim Read, Pauline Richards, Tim Richardson, Ellen Sandell, Michaela Settle, Ros Spence, Nick Staikos, Natalie Suleyman, Meng Heang Tak, Jackson Taylor, Nina Taylor, Kat Theophanous, Mary-Anne Thomas, Emma Vulin, Iwan Walters, Vicki Ward, Dylan Wight, Belinda Wilson, Gabrielle de Vietri
Noes (24)
Brad Battin, Jade Benham, Roma Britnell, Tim Bull, Martin Cameron, Chris Crewther, Wayne Farnham, Sam Groth, Matthew Guy, David Hodgett, Emma Kealy, Tim McCurdy, Cindy McLeish, James Newbury, Danny O'Brien, Michael O'Brien, John Pesutto, Richard Riordan, Brad Rowswell, David Southwick, Bridget Vallence, Peter Walsh, Kim Wells, Nicole Werner
Official record: Votes and Proceedings Nos 90 to 92 (LA-60-092-04)
17 October 2024 · Legislative Council
Short Stay Levy Bill 2024
- Question put
- 11 SHORT STAY LEVY BILL 2024 — Debate resumed on the question, That the Bill be now read a second time.
- Result
- Question agreed to. Ayes 21, Noes 17.
- Matches “agree”
- A No vote
- Weight
- Strong: a second or third reading, counted five times
- Why it's linked
- Second reading (Council). Aye = support the bill; agree = No.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Justice | 1 | 0 | Aye |
| Greens | 4 | 0 | Aye |
| Labor | 14 | 0 | Aye |
| Legalise Cannabis | 2 | 0 | Aye |
| Liberal | 0 | 10 | No |
| Libertarian | 0 | 1 | No |
| Nationals | 0 | 2 | No |
| One Nation | 0 | 1 | No |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | 0 | 1 | No |
Independents, each counted on their own: Moira Deeming (No), Adem Somyurek (No)
Every name (Ayes 21, Noes 17) in the vote of 17 October 2024
Ayes (21)
Ryan Batchelor, John Berger, Lizzie Blandthorn, Katherine Copsey, Enver Erdogan, Jacinta Ermacora, David Ettershank, Michael Galea, Shaun Leane, Sarah Mansfield, Tom McIntosh, Rachel Payne, Aiv Puglielli, Georgie Purcell, Samantha Ratnam, Harriet Shing, Ingrid Stitt, Jaclyn Symes, Lee Tarlamis, Gayle Tierney, Sheena Watt
Noes (17)
Melina Bath, Jeff Bourman, Gaelle Broad, Georgie Crozier, David Davis, Moira Deeming, Renee Heath, Ann-Marie Hermans, David Limbrick, Wendy Lovell, Bev McArthur, Joe McCracken, Nick McGowan, Evan Mulholland, Adem Somyurek, Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell, Richard Welch
Official record: Minutes of the Proceedings Nos. 86, 87 and 88 (LC-60-088-03)
17 October 2024 · Legislative Council
Short Stay Levy Bill 2024
- Question put
- Question — That the Bill be now read a third time — put.
- Result
- Question agreed to. Ayes 21, Noes 15.
- Matches “agree”
- A No vote
- Weight
- Strong: a second or third reading, counted five times
- Why it's linked
- Third reading (Council). Aye = support the bill; agree = No.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Justice | 1 | 0 | Aye |
| Greens | 4 | 0 | Aye |
| Labor | 14 | 0 | Aye |
| Legalise Cannabis | 2 | 0 | Aye |
| Liberal | 0 | 10 | No |
| Libertarian | 0 | 1 | No |
| Nationals | 0 | 2 | No |
| One Nation | 0 | 1 | No |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | 0 | 0 | Did not vote |
Independents, each counted on their own: Adem Somyurek (No)
Every name (Ayes 21, Noes 15) in the vote of 17 October 2024
Ayes (21)
Ryan Batchelor, John Berger, Lizzie Blandthorn, Katherine Copsey, Enver Erdogan, Jacinta Ermacora, David Ettershank, Michael Galea, Shaun Leane, Sarah Mansfield, Tom McIntosh, Rachel Payne, Aiv Puglielli, Georgie Purcell, Samantha Ratnam, Harriet Shing, Ingrid Stitt, Jaclyn Symes, Lee Tarlamis, Gayle Tierney, Sheena Watt
Noes (15)
Melina Bath, Gaelle Broad, Georgie Crozier, David Davis, Renee Heath, Ann-Marie Hermans, David Limbrick, Wendy Lovell, Bev McArthur, Joe McCracken, Nick McGowan, Evan Mulholland, Adem Somyurek, Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell, Richard Welch
Official record: Minutes of the Proceedings Nos. 86, 87 and 88 (LC-60-088-04)
Sources
- EM
- Second reading (Tim Pallas (Treasurer), 2024-08-28)
- Opposition (Brad Rowswell (Shadow Treasurer; moved reasoned amendment), 2024-09-11)
- Crossbench (Gabrielle de Vietri, GRN)
- Crossbench (Aiv Puglielli, GRN)
- News: AAP (2024-10-17); ABC News (2024-08-27); Accountants Daily (2024-10-20)
- Full list: Sources tab (23 items).
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