The Allan Labor Government must urgently find a solution to its disastrous free camping policy, with “ghost camping” is set to continue across the Easter holidays.
Labor’s free camping policy has resulted in people deliberately booking multiple camping sites and then failing to show up, knowing there are no consequences.
The mismanaged free camping in national parks policy resulted in occupancy rates as low as 35 to 50 percent in many national park campgrounds over the peak summer holiday period – and the alarming trend is set to continue this Easter.
Shadow Minister for Public Land Management, Melina Bath, has re-iterated calls for Labor to take action.
Ms Bath said the empty camping sites were impacting small businesses, which depend on increased cash flow from campers.
“Labor’s policy has resulted in people deliberately booking multiple sites and no consequence for ‘no shows’,” Ms Bath said.
“People are taking advantage of the system by securing multiple sites and leaving them vacant for added space and comfort.
“By contrast campers who arrive without a booking are being refused a site by Parks Victoria staff despite the park campgrounds being half empty.
“Without penalties, ‘ghost camping’ will continue to negatively impact our regional economy and cause enormous frustration for those campers who miss out.”
The Liberals and Nationals have been calling for a raft of potential changes to improve the fairness including refundable deposits and the issuing of penalties for failing to cancel a booking as is the case in Queensland.
Ms Bath said all practical suggestions to fix ghost camping had been dismissed by the Allan Labor Government – and it has instead gone with an ineffective text message booking reminder.
“It is typical of Labor to focus on of the headline and not the ramifications of its policy,” Ms Bath said.
“Labor can’t manage the use of public land and Victorians are paying the price.”
