GOLIATH TAKES SWING AT DAVID ON EVE OF OPTIONS PAPER

The NSW Parliament's 'Option Paper' on short-term letting will reportedly be released tomorrow with Airbnb's spokesperson Brent Thomas receiving Media attention aplenty. In a television interview, Mr Thomas claims Neighbours Not Strangers and others are using 'scare tactics' and receiving funds from the Hotel Lobby.

Both Airbnb and Expedia/Stayz staff have refused to disclose what monies they have spent in NSW on Parliamentary Lobbyists such as Peter Collins’ Barton Deakin group, partnerships with Qantas, Jetstar, Westpac, Committee for Sydney and the Sydney Opera House Trust, to name but a few, a massive PR/Media campaign, and indeed the wages of a corporate army driving their push to see altered our legislation and Land and Environment Court case law. Duplicity, sycophancy and mendacity are terms that could spring to mind. Noted too: reports that Airbnb spent USD8 million to defeat legislation intended to see curbed their takeover of San Francisco’s homes.

Unless we are mistaken, Airbnb and Expedia/Stayz’s investment in housing, hotels and infrastructure in NSW has been zero.

Some updated figures for consideration, which some may indeed find frightening:

Illawara:

Airbnb/Stayz - 7,132 homes advertised as holiday rentals

Domain.com.au - 838 homes advertised for rent to residents

Shoalhaven:

Airbnb/Stayz - 4,951 homes advertised as holiday rentals

Domain.com.au - 394 homes advertised for rent to residents

Homes not Hotels Communities not Transit Zones People before Profits

Neighbours not Strangers