General News
14 October, 2026
Anger over ‘cash grab’
A TOURISM tax imposed by the Queensland Government on visitors to the Mossman Gorge has been described as “a cash grab” by a Douglas Shire councillor.
From 19 October, the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) will impose a levy of $2.70 on all visitors, except local residents, to access Mossman Gorge National Park.
DETSI will provide the full amount raised from the new tax, which could be as much as $1 million a year, to native title holders Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation.
But an “angry” Cr Damian Meadows described the ‘commercial activity permit fee’ as “a backhanded tax”.
“ … it’s a cash grab by the state government,” he told the last ordinary council meeting.
“The fact that it is the most visited Indigenous centre in the country, I think, just makes it even more lucrative,” he said.
“I know I do note that it doesn’t impact on local people within the Shire attending the gorge and utilising the facility.
“However, it’s just another impost on tourism that’s going to potentially have ramifications for the Shire.
“Secondly, there’s an agreement between Department of Environmental Technology Science Innovation to utilise council’s road.
“We own that road, so why can’t some of this funding come back to us to maintain that road?
“That’s the question I’d like to have answered.
“Instead, it’s all just going in one direction to facilitate maintenance within the national park. I’m not against maintaining the national park, but I think if you’re going to continue to utilise a local government asset, why is it the ratepayer’s responsibility to maintain that road?
“So that’s probably enough from me before I get angry.”
Deputy Mayor Roy Zammataro said there was “no benefit to the ratepayers from this”.
“The money is going to one organisation in particular,” he said.
“So, I don’t understand why we would endorse it”.
Cr Michael Rees said for a family visiting the gorge it would make it more expensive.
“I support it in principle because they’re going to do it anyway,” he said.
“And I think I want to make sure that the gorge remains in pristine condition,” he said.
Cr Abigail Noli said she didn’t like the proposal.
“I believe the cost to go up to the gorge is already high enough. I will, however, be supporting it because I believe that our hands are tied,” she said.
Mayor Lisa Scomazzon said she had “advocated strongly at every chance with the state government for a sustainable tourism levy for the Shire”.
“The intention behind the proposal was to generate funding that could be invested back into our community and benefit our ratepayers, residents and visitors by helping provide and maintain quality tourism infrastructure and community assets.
“I was advised by the Minister for the Department of Environmental Tourism, Science and Innovation, Minister (Andrew) Powell, that the state government will not introduce any new taxes, levies, or fees during this term of government, as this was a commitment made to Queenslanders.
“Yet the arrangement before us appears to introduce a new charge on visitors using the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre bus service.
“The terminology used may be a fee, levy, permit, charge or something else. But what matters is a practical effect. Visitors will be required to pay an additional charge.
“Our community contributes to the maintenance and upkeep of this road, provides access to a significant state-controlled national asset and major tourist destination.
“If the state government is now introducing an additional charge on tourists to access the national park, then surely we should be asking, why isn’t some of the revenue being returned to the Shire to help maintain the road and infrastructure the visitors rely upon to access the national park?”
Despite their opposition, Cr Rees and Meadows, as well as Cr Noli, endorsed the fee while Cr Scomazzon and Cr Zammataro did not.
Mr Powell’s office has denied it’s a tourism tax or a new fee, saying it has been in place since 1994.
