Government 'tone deaf' to public views on controversial Airbnb bill
The pressure is growing on the government to scrap proposed new rules which would govern short-term home rentals such as Airbnb.
Opponents of the Tourism Amendment Bill claim it will hit tourism hard and have labeled it an unnecessary interference.
Martin van Staden at the Free Market Foundation's Rule of Law Project says government is failing to read the room on the public's opinion on the bill.
This intervention by government is, for lack of a better word, tone deaf.
Martin van Staden, Legal researcher - Free Market Foundation
Government really needs to follow what people are saying, basically the democratic will of the people.
Martin van Staden, Legal researcher - Free Market Foundation
If passed the bill would empower the minister of tourism to determine 'thresholds' regarding short-term home rentals, these might include the number of nights a property could be rented out.