Short-Stay Levy Revenue Welcome - But Years Late
The Committee welcomes the Victorian Government's commitment to deliver social housing with funding raised from the Short-Stay Levy - something the Committee has called for since 2023.
Last week, the Minister for Housing, the Hon. Nick Staikos MP, announced the Victorian Government had acquired land on the Mornington Peninsula to build 20 beds for supported accommodation. The Minister confirmed that "this project [was] being made possible through the funds collected by the short stay levy".
The Committee is pleased with this fully funded commitment, which, as the Mornington Community Support Centre acknowledged, will provide "certainty and hope" - and is a testament to the hard work and advocacy of many groups including Southern Women's Action Network (SWAN), Mornington Community Support Centre, Mornington Peninsula Shire, and Mornington Rotary.
The Short-Stay Levy was introduced by the Victorian Government in 2024 and raises revenue from short-stay hosts for housing across Victoria. Of this, 25% was reserved for Regional Victoria while the remaining 75% was allocated across Metropolitan Melbourne.
Despite doing the heavy lifting, our region received nothing for social housing from this tax.
The Committee first raised this as an issue with the Victorian Government in September 2023.
Since then, we have been vocal in our opposition to the levy in its entirety, or, for the Victorian Government to commit to spending revenue raised from the levy locally.
- 2026: Committee members raised concerns about the short-stay levy and lack of revenue from the levy being spent on local support services with Victorian Opposition Leader, Jess Wilson.
- 2025: Committee members raised concerns around the short-stay levy with Shadow Economic Growth spokesperson, Jess Wilson.
- 2024: Committee presented its views on the Short-Stay levy to a roundtable hosted by SWAN with the Hon. Harriet Shing MP.
- 2024: Committee delegation presented its views on many issues, including the funding raised on the short-stay levy, to Ministers and Shadow Ministers at Victorian Parliament in September.
- 2024: Media coverage on this issue in November.
- 2024: Committee raised this issue with Housing Minister, the Hon. Harriet Shing MP, in January 2024.
- 2024: Committee media coverage and letter to Homes Victoria CEO about this issue: Available here.
- 2023: Committee met with Opposition Leader John Pesutto and raises concerns around the funding raised from the short-stay levy
- 2023: Committee's response to Housing Statement of September 2023.
The Committee is pleased the Victorian Government now acknowledges the clear and distinct housing and homelessness crisis on the Mornington Peninsula, and it will now divert some funding from the short-stay levy to our region.
In this period of caretaker government before the Victorian State Election, we welcome the opportunity to work with the next Victorian Government on delivering housing support in our region - and ensuring we get our fair share!
