Criticism of a proposed national parks fee rise by Bellarine MP Lisa Neville has attracted a sarcastic response from state government.
Parks Victoria has proposed what it calls a “modest” fee increase and to introduce camping fees in some free areas.
But Ms Neville, the opposition environment spokesperson, said the previous Labor government had found collecting and administering fees would cost more than the revenue.
“The fees will hurt families and do little — or nothing — to protect and develop the parks,” she said.
She said fewer people would visit parks.
But environment minister Ryan Smith hit back, saying Ms Neville “needs to know money doesn’t grow on trees”.
He said a report revealing a $178 million black hole in Parks Victoria’s financial position was scathing of Labor’s “financial mismanagement” of national parks.
“I find it incredulous for Ms Neville to suggest that it would somehow cost nearly $13.5 million to collect camping fees.
“Parks Victoria has an established online camping and accommodation booking system which Ms Neville will be surprised to learn is, and has always been, quite effective.
“We anticipate that by using novel technology such as the internet we will be able to efficiently cover the majority of the cost of providing camping and accommodation services in our national parks.”
