The Victorian Government will officially end its free camping policy on 30 June, replacing it with reduced camping fees, according to recent state budget papers. The change comes in response to growing concerns from regional communities and ongoing pressure from The Nationals.
Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien, has been a vocal critic of the free camping initiative since its introduction. He pointed to a surge in “ghost camping” — where campers book sites but never show up, nor cancel their bookings — as a key issue.
“The Allan Labor Government’s free camping policy was poorly thought out and a disaster right from the get-go,” Mr O’Brien said.
He added that the absence of fees led some people to exploit the system by reserving multiple adjacent campsites under various names to secure more space, without facing any penalties.
The policy’s flaws have had ripple effects on tourism-reliant communities. With campsites appearing “booked out” but remaining empty, local businesses such as cafes, pubs, and small retailers missed out on vital tourism revenue.
Mr O’Brien emphasized the damage done to these small towns:
“It was extremely disappointing for local businesses that rely on visitor spending. The lack of proper policy planning caused them to lose out on income when campsites were left unused.”
According to the state budget, the government now plans to introduce a half-price camping model, an approach that The Nationals have long advocated.
“I am hopeful these tourism businesses will be able to gain some semblance of normality now that commonsense has prevailed and the poor policy has been scrapped,” said Mr O’Brien.
O’Brien also urged the Allan Labor Government to focus on completing key infrastructure projects, notably the rebuild of the Sealers Cove boardwalk at Wilson’s Promontory, which has remained closed since storm damage in 2021.
“Hopefully the government can now turn its attention to getting on with repair works and actually finishing crucial infrastructure projects like the Sealers Cove boardwalk rebuild,” he said.
The end of the free camping era marks a significant policy reversal aimed at restoring balance to Victoria’s outdoor tourism and regional economies.
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