Avoid unnecessary red tape with common sense move, advise AHA & TAA

The Australian Hotels Association (AHA) and Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA) have welcomed the Federal Government’s response to the King Review, which did not support the report’s recommendation to add an unnecessary compliance burden on Australian hotels.

The Report of the Expert Panel Examining Additional Sources of Low Cost Abatement, chaired by Mr Grant King, included a recommendation that the National Australian Built Environment Rating Scheme (NABERS) and the Commercial Buildings Disclosure (CBD) scheme be expanded to hotels – an expensive policy change that would have done very little to reduce emissions.

AHA National CEO Stephen Ferguson said in rejecting this recommendation, the Federal Government has saved many Australian hotels from yet more red tape.

“This is a common sense move by the Federal Government and we thank Angus Taylor in particular for listening to the concerns outlined by the AHA and TAA,” Mr Ferguson said.

“Australian hotels go to great lengths to reduce electricity use and maximise efficiency given electricity costs represent a significant portion of their operating costs.

“Our industry takes emission reduction seriously because there is a significant financial incentive to do so – what hotels don’t need is yet another costly and unnecessary process imposed on them by regulators.”

TAA CEO Michael Johnson said that by avoiding being included in the NABERS and CBD schemes, hotels can continue to concentrate on implementing practical measures to reduce costs and emissions rather than spending even more time and money on appeasing bureaucrats.

“For years Australian hotels have been world-leading in their pursuit for innovative and practical solutions to reduce emissions, which has been driven in large part by rising energy costs,” Mr Johnson said.

“From forming Renewable Energy Power Purchase Agreements with energy providers, through to implementing Power Factor Correction Systems and Building Management Systems, Australia’s hotels have been getting on with the job of increasing energy efficiency and driving down emissions.

“We commend the Federal Government for refusing to accept a recommendation that would have added unnecessary red tape to hotels, at a time when the industry requires comprehensive assistance from policy makers.”