03:43

The New South Wales minister for better regulation and innovation, Kevin Anderson, has sought to clarify the legal status of short-term rental company Airbnb, after reports suggesting the state had outlawed the company during the Covid-19 crisis.



Earlier today Nine’s real estate site Domain reported it was “now illegal for anyone in NSW to stay in an Airbnb” or similar short-term letting accommodation, quoting a spokesperson for the minister as saying there was “zero reason for someone to stay in an airbnb”.

But that story has since been amended, and Anderson has told Guardian Australia there is “no ban on any kind of accomodation”.



“Reports that it is illegal to stay in short-term rental accommodation are incorrect. There is no ban on any kind of accommodation,” he said.



“The NSW Government advice to prevent the spread of COVID-19 has been very clear. As per the public health orders, people must stay home with the exception of a number of circumstances including work and to provide care.



“The NSW Government acknowledges that in these circumstances the provision of short-term accommodation is often critical, particularly for our frontline health workers.”



Under current public health orders, moving to a new place of residence, or between your different places of residents are considered a reasonable excuse to leave home, although they stipulate that “a holiday is not an acceptable reason”.