Key issues for Byron Bay business owners

BYRON BAY business owners met with politicians to discuss key hospitality and tourism issues ahead of the federal election.

Fundies Organics owner Paul Waters organised the meeting, attended by Senator Perrin Davey and Nationals candidate for Richmond Kimberley Hone. He raised concerns about Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) relief, organic food certification costs, and beach erosion.

The Nationals introduced the National Organic Standard Bill in November to create a mandatory domestic certification standard, aiming to reduce costs for certified businesses.

“A lot of producers and suppliers are struggling to pay for the certification costs each year,” Waters said.

“We want to make it more streamlined and affordable.

“Mango farmers might only get one decent crop every three years, so they struggle to pay an annual fee.

“That’s just one example, too. We need a symbol like the green Kangaroo that people will trust and recognise for the certification.”

The damage from Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred also highlighted ongoing erosion issues at the beaches in Byron Bay.

Waters said sea walls are expensive but would help protect a multimillion tourism industry.

“We need sea walls for the beaches from The Pass all the way down to Belongil Beach,” he said.

“At Main Beach there’s no protection at all. It’s receding.”

Walters said relief on the Fringe Benefit Tax for small business and its workers has been a major issue for people in hospitality.

He has previously run restaurants in Byron Bay and was the head of the town’s chamber of commerce.

He said relief would help bosses who cannot take their workers to a restaurant for a meal without the business and worker being hit with additional taxes.

“I’ve been writing to the federal government for years about this one,” he said.

“People spending more means extra jobs and money coming into the region.”