A report has found Airbnb contributed $3.7 billion to the Victorian economy across 12 months. Souce: Shutterstock
The Victorian government has shot down a push to expand a contentious short-stays levy to all accommodation bookings, including Melbourne hotels.
Former premier Daniel Andrews last month unveiled an Australian-first, statewide levy on short-stay platforms such as Airbnb and Stayz.
The consumer-facing 7.5% levy is slated to come into effect from 2025 and raise $70 million a year to build and maintain social housing amid weak supply and soaring rents.
Airbnb Australia and New Zealand public policy head Michael Crosby said the San Francisco-based giant was disappointed the levy strictly targeted short-stay platforms.
“We support the concept of using this revenue for use in new housing projects,” he said in Melbourne on Wednesday.
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