21 Jan 2016
Words Richard Munro

Accommodation Industry Response to the release of Labor’s Sharing Economy Principals

Accommodation Association of Australia Chief Executive Officer, Richard Munro said: “While there are some positive aspects to what Labor is proposing – such as greater taxation obligations for sharing economy companies – overall, the principals fall short of ensuring there is a level playing field for operators of tourism accommodation businesses and platforms which enable private residences to be used for tourism accommodation.

The lack of a level playing field would have the potential to further compromise tourism accommodation investment in Australia and would mean that people with disability could be left without adequate access to accommodation booked through a sharing economy platform.” The Accommodation Association’s perspectives on Labor’s Sharing Economy Principals are:

1/10 – Additional property used to deliver services does not fall within the scope of the sharing economy Accommodation Association assessment of this proposal:

Mr Munro’s comment: “Standard commercial regulations and requirements should apply to any property which is used for tourism accommodation.”

7/10 – Property compliance responsibility should rest with sharing economy platform operators

Mr Munro: “Platform operators must not shirk responsibility for compliance with regulatory obligations set by all levels of government in Australia.”

8/10 – Sharing economy services must not undercut the wages and conditions of Australian workers

Mr Munro: “Even allowing for the fact that sharing economy accommodation businesses employ very few people in Australia and create very few jobs in Australia, workers in the accommodation industry must be paid in accordance with appropriate awards and/or in accordance with Australia’s Fair Work Act.”

9/10 – Sharing economy companies must pay company tax at the standard corporate rate on all revenue generated in Australia

Mr Munro: “This proposal would stop Airbnb from funnelling to Ireland transactions involving guests and hosts who are located in Australia.”

4/10 – Australians delivering sharing economy services must pay income tax and collect GST when their activity exceeds the GST-exemption threshold

Mr Munro: “All companies operating in Australia’s sharing economy should pay the same taxes and ‘bricks and mortar’ companies, including GST and company tax.”

7/10 – Compliance responsibility for meeting insurance requirements should rest with sharing economy companies

Mr Munro: “If a platform which promotes private residences for tourism accommodation does not have appropriate insurance, the safety of consumers is at risk.”

0/10 – State and local governments should develop licensing and inspection codes specific to sharing economy services

Mr Munro: “Why should a sharing economy business in the accommodation industry be treated any differently to any other accommodation business by government?”

0/10 – Sharing economy services should comply with accessibility standard negotiated with disability advocates

Mr Munro: Disability access requirements for accommodation business are mandated by government, therefore people with disability could be left without adequate access to accommodation booked through a sharing economy platform under this proposal.”

10/10 – There should be zero tolerance for companies that flout Australian laws

Mr Munro: “There should be zero tolerance for companies that flout Australian laws.”