Election promise broken as new State Government tax introduced

The State Government has introduced a new tax in Douglas Shire despite promising at the last election not to bring in any new taxes during this term of government.

From Sunday, October 18, non-local visitors to Mossman Gorge - the most visited Indigenous landmark in the country attracting about 300,000 visitors per year - will be required to pay a new tax of $2.70 to help maintain the park.

In the June state budget the Government announced an about $630,000 upgrade of the Mossman Gorge Rainforest Circuit walking trail to improve the surface, drainage, and stairways.

Douglas Shire Mayor Lisa Scomazzon spoke out against the new tax in the most recent council meeting, saying she had lobbied Tourism Minister Andrew Powell to introduce a broader tourist levy in the region, but he had knocked that back because the Government had promised not to introduce any new taxes.

“Previously I’ve advocated strongly at every chance with the State Government to introduce a sustainable tourism levy for this Shire,” Mayor Scomazzon said.

“The intention behind the proposal is to generate funding that could be invested back into our community and benefit our ratepayers, residents and visitors by helping provide and maintain quality tourism infrastructure and community assets.”

Deputy Mayor Roy Zammataro and Cr Damian Meadows supported the Mayor’s stance.

“They knocked back a bad tax,” Cr Zammataro said.

“A bed tax would benefit all of the ratepayers, it would cut the rates down.”

Cr Meadows: “This seems like a back-handed tax.”

“It’s a cash grab by the State Government.”

Several councillors said that Douglas Shire ratepayers pay to maintain the road to the Gorge, so the council should receive a share of this new tax.

“We own that road, so why can’t some of this funding come back to us to maintain that road?” Cr Meadows said.

“Why is it the ratepayers’ responsibility to maintain that road?”

Mossman Gorge tourists who ride the bus from the cultural centre to the park are being hit with a new tax of $2.70 from mid October.

Once the new fee is applied, an adult ticket will cost $18.20, up from $15.50, a child will cost $10.45, up from $7.75, and a family ticket will cost close to $50, up from $38.75 now.