A formal ePetition has been launched to oppose a Minns Labor Government proposal that will see a drastic increase in camping fees in National Parks across NSW.
The NSW Nationals have teamed up with Michael Atkinson, also known as 'Outback Mike', to bring the petition to Parliament after concerns fees in some parks could go up by 600 per cent.
Shadow Minister for Tourism, Kevin Anderson, said the decision will put some of our most-treasured natural assets behind a paywall in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.
"When I asked the Minister for Tourism about this in Question Time last month, he refused to acknowledge the issue, despite the heavy impact it will have on the tourism sector by deterring people from wanting to camp in our National Parks," Mr Anderson said.
"The Minns Labor Government needs to go back to the drawing board and find better ways to save money than hitting hard-working families who are just looking to get out and enjoy nature."
Nationals MLC Scott Barrett, who brought the petition forward, said National Parks should be more accessible for everyone.
"This proposal will put camping out of reach for many families and that's why I believe it's important to support Outback Mike with this petition," Mr Barrett said.
"Some of my favourite moments have been spent with my family in our state's iconic National Parks and limiting those experiences for other families based on cost is extremely frustrating."
'Outback Mike' who is famous for his survival skills and wilderness adventure videos, has publicly expressed concerns over the Government's decision on social media, urging people to take action by signing the e-Petition.
"We're hoping to gather as many signatures as possible to show the government how much we care about our National Parks. Everyone should have access to the beauty of our natural spaces, regardless of their financial situation," Mr Atkinson said.
"This is something that will affect all of us, and our families, for generations. If these fee increases go through now, they'll never go back down."
The ePetition also calls on the Minns Labor Government to fund National Parks adequately rather than relying on new end-user fees and to increase the number of campsites commensurate with park visitation.
The petition is open until August 21 and can be found at:
https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/lc/pages/epetition-details.aspx?q=kv8c-ok0G8RbJvwQHKNi_Q
By signing this petition you'll help keep our NSW National Parks accessible for our current and future generations.
