The rollout of a free camping initiative by the Victorian government has come under fire for disproportionately benefiting affluent suburbs rather than assisting struggling families. Data from Parks Victoria indicates that residents of Brunswick and Northcote were the primary users of the free camping offer, contradicting claims from the Labor Party that the scheme would support lower-income families during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
Brunswick emerged as the top suburb for bookings, with the occupational profile of its residents revealing that 73 percent work in professional roles, management, or as public servants. Critics argue that this reflects the initiative’s failure to reach those who need assistance the most. Shadow Minister for Public Land Management, Melina Bath, stated, “This ghost camping fiasco left sites empty while struggling families missed out and small businesses in regional Victoria paid the price.”
The term “ghost camping” refers to the practice where individuals booked multiple sites to reserve premium camping locations, leaving many spaces vacant. Bath criticized the initiative as a misallocation of funds, pointing out that it resulted in a waste of $9 million of taxpayer money. “Treasurer’s Advances are for emergencies, not for government headline grabs; this is a blatant misuse of public funds,” she remarked.
Bath further highlighted the inequity of the program, asserting it primarily benefitted upper-middle-income earners in Brunswick, while families facing financial difficulties were left without options. “The state is drowning in debt, paying $28 million a day in interest, yet Labor still finds ways to squander taxpayer dollars,” she added.
The Allan Labor Government initially promoted this policy as a means to assist Victorians grappling with rising living costs. However, Bath contended that the government had squandered $9 million without delivering meaningful support to those in need. “Labor can’t manage money, and Victorians are paying the price,” she concluded.
As scrutiny intensifies, the future of this initiative remains uncertain. The government faces mounting pressure to rethink its approach to public spending and ensure that resources are directed towards those who genuinely require assistance.
