QUANDAMOOKA Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC) Chair Cameron Costello has rejected claims that a new tourism initiative being developed for North Stradbroke Island includes a “bed tax” or levy on visitors.
Oodgeroo MP Amanda Stoker said she had been told at a recent forum that QYAC representatives proposed a tourism “pledge” with a charge applied to businesses and visitors.
“I was not in attendance and so can only relay what has been reported to me,” Ms Stoker said.
“Needless to say, I do not support a tourist tax, however it may be named, and I have confirmed with the Minister that there is no such policy from the Queensland Government.
“Nor will there be.
“Tourism businesses on Straddie have it tough enough, and disincentives for people to visit of this kind would be deeply harmful for the local economy, with negative implications for the living standards of indigenous and non-indigenous residents alike.”
Colin Battersby, President of the Straddie Chamber of Commerce, urged all levels of government to focus on the needs of the island in terms of infrastructure and public facilities namely roads, rates, rubbish, transport infrastructure and transport service delivery.
“The Chamber believes that any visitor economy measures should been designed through the prism of people, planet, profit and all Straddie business should work together on better product and service delivery for visitors instead of making the visitor feel unwelcome which is what this thought bubble from QYAC risks doing,” he said.
Mr Costello said the reports misrepresented the forum’s purpose.
“The forum was about developing a pledge — or a promise — for visitors to respect country and culture,” he said.
He said the pledge, called the Jinamarumba (good footprint) promise, would encourage visitors to respect heritage, minimise waste, recycle, and promote reconciliation.
“There was no suggestion of a levy or tax,” he said, clarifying that a reference to the Palau Pledge was simply an example of pledges used globally, not a proposal for Stradbroke.
Mr Costello added the pledge would be voluntary, free to sign up to, and could offer rewards for participation, such as discounts or opportunities to contribute to cultural and environmental projects.
“This is all part of the next design phase,” he said.
“We aren’t out to scare tourists away or tax them but to engage meaningfully, educate, and enable them to participate in preserving the island’s beautiful cultural, wildlife, and environmental heritage for future generations.”
The text of the promise:
• An invitation from the Quandamooka traditional owners to join in reverence of country and culture
• To leave a good footprint by
- Respecting cultural places and heritage
- Doing no harm to landscapes, flora and fauna
- Minimising waste, recycling materials and taking rubbish away
- Being a positive agent for reconciliation and rejecting racism
The elements:
• Scope is comprehensive and overall purpose is caring for country by managing visitors and minimising impacts on ecology, country, culture and heritage.
• Aiming that all visitors, holiday-homes & businesses sign to the promise.
• Will set out specific activities that improve respect and are eco-positive.
• Research-based and publicly available Jinamarumba guide and manual.
• Partially fund through a coupon type arrangement that gives discounts.
• Co-operative but QYAC led.
