Media Release — ASTRA disappointed with Vic Govt approach, calls for STR tax to be delayed to July 1
ASTRA, Australia’s peak short-term rental organisation, expressed disappointment with the Victorian Government for passing the Short Stay Levy Bill 2024 without exempting essential workers and disabled travelers from the 7.5% tax. Chairman Yoav Tourel urged a six-month delay from January 1 to July 1, arguing that operators need more time to prepare their billing systems and ensure a smooth transition during peak tourism season.
Tourel warned that the tax would raise accommodation costs, impacting not only tourists but also essential workers, medical patients, and families in need of emergency housing. He also highlighted concerns about the tax applying to GST-inclusive revenue and opposed provisions allowing local councils and Body Corporates to regulate or ban short-term stays.
