South Australia is considering implementing a registry for short-term rental properties, following the models established in New South Wales and Western Australia. Operators like Jenny Bickley and David Galpin have mixed reactions; while some support it for its potential to improve data transparency, others worry about security risks and additional fees. Public consultation on this proposal closes on October 30.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
South Australia is set to join New South Wales and Western Australia by implementing a registry for short-term accommodation operators. Operators' reactions to this proposal are mixed, with concerns raised over security risks such as potential burglary and squatting. For example, Jenny Bickley, who runs a dual-abode property in Mount Gambier via Airbnb and makes about $45,000 annually from it, is concerned about publicly naming properties due to security issues. Meanwhile, Mr Galpin, whose accommodation is on his farm, sees less risk compared to city or town-based flats. The state government's inquiry into the sector last year highlighted a lack of data regarding short-term rental impacts on housing and rental affordability. Public consultation on this proposal closes on October 30.
Written for “SA Register Proposal Reactions” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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No political leaning scored for article 56075 · logged 2026-10-04
In short:
South Australia is set to join New South Wales and Western Australia with a registry for short-stay accommodation.
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Australia → set → accommodation
The scheme is still being shaped but the initial feedback from operators has been mixed, with some raising concerns about security and the impact on local government decisions.
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some → shape → decisions
Public consultation closes on October 30.
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consultation → close → October
Accountant Jenny Bickley makes about $45,000 in profit each year from guests hiring her dual-abode property in Mount Gambier.
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Bickley → make → Gambier
"The Airbnb model is way better than renting," she said.
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she → rent → renting
While Ms Bickley is one of many South Australians who run a short-stay accommodation business, it is not exactly clear how many there actually are.
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it → run → business
Counting the beds
Last year, the state government wrapped up its inquiry into the sector amid nationwide concerns about the model affecting housing and rental affordability.
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government → count → housing
Among the takeaways: SA lacked the data.
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SA → lack → data
The committee floated a registration scheme, a concept already seen in Western Australia and New South Wales.
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committee → float → Australia
The Short Term Accommodation Association Australia (STAAA) backed a statewide register but wanted the approach reconsidered and warned of "unnecessary duplication".
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approach → back → duplication
The details have not been locked in, but a discussion paper indicated councils could apply their own land-use codes and decide rates, something the STAAA was not keen on.
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STAAA → lock → rates
"We need one state, one register and one consistent registration system," executive director Keiran Craig-Jones said.
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Jones → need → state
Ms Bickley, who fought council rate hikes in Mount Gambier, believed registration could help shake any "cowboys" operating unlawfully but echoed the STAAA's concerns.
"I'd be very upset if they actually wanted to charge us and put an extra fee on it,"she said.
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they → fight → it,"she
Ms Bickley said most of her booking were people visiting the town for events.
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most → say → events
Fourth generation farmer David Galpin entered the world of short-stays last year when he pitched his purpose-built paddock-view property in Penola as a luxury escape.
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he → enter → escape
Mr Galpin welcomed the register and believed it could inform the family's future business moves and even lead to more short-stay rentals.
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it → welcome → rentals
"If we had data in front of us to say more beds were needed, we could work towards that,"he said.
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we → have → that,"he
Ms Bickley said she understood the benefit for government decision-making, but was concerned about potential security issues.
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she → say → issues
"Nobody actually knows the location [of my property] until they complete the booking," she said.
"To publicly name our property and addresses would be a severe security risk."
Mr Galpin was less concerned by the risks of a public register given his farm was "different to having a flat or something in a city or town".
Ms Craig-Jones said while security was a "legitimate issue to consider", she was not aware of any increased burglary, squatting or similar offending following registers in other jurisdictions.
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she → know → jurisdictions
National Shelter chief executive Jackson Hills said there were hundreds of local government areas nationwide, but about 40 or 50 faced "a much bigger challenge" around short-stay accommodation.
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40 → say → accommodation
In certain hotspots, such as Noosa in Queensland, he said policymakers may have "got the balance wrong" given shortages in the local workforce.
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balance → say → workforce
Mr Hills said Australia would be better off understanding what the actual levels were before moving to "arbitrary policy responses".
"There are local governments focusing on their local economies and that's exactly where the conversation should be," he said.
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he → say → economies
Public consultation for South Australia's registry closes on October 30 at 5pm.
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consultation → close → pm
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