@Leanne273
Sorry I haven't responded sooner but it wasn't until Frances tagged me that I became aware of your reply.
When you want another contributors attention Leanne, press the @ symbol, and a drop down box will appear with a list of contributors who are involved in that message stream. Just click the contributor you wish to converse with and that person will get a notification, as I have done at the start of this message.
To me this sounds a bit dodgy Leanne!
1/........Local council or Office of Fair Trading through the Consumer Affairs Branch are not going to come at you with a phone call or some hand delivered scribe stuffed in a letterbox. Authorities like to keep everything very official with a well defined trail. What you have described does not sound like their way of doing business.
2/.......I am not aware that a Co-Host in Australia need to be licensed. Property managers do but a co-host is not regarded as a property manager. A co-host falls in the same bracket as a cleaner. You act for and under the direction of a principal. It could be seen though as a grey area Leanne.
3/.......Queensland government are rather vague with their STR definitions. All the official site says is........To offer rental accommodation to customers you may need permission from your local council.
Other Government sites are even more vague, and with regard to Gold Coast Council any search for clarification ends up at a lawyers online site with a notation.....'page not found'! Not at all helpful!
Leanne, you don't, in reality know where this information is coming from and I think you need to sort that out as a first step!
I would contact the Office of Fair Trading in Southport on 13 74 68 yourself, or go into their office at 12/14 Marine Parade, Southport, explain your situation and ask for their help in defining what obligations you might need to comply with.
I would do this as a matter of urgency Leanne. I have found authorities are very helpful if you take the first step and ask what you should do. If they come after you things could be considerably different.
Sorry I can't be of more help but I wish you luck and hope this sorts out well for you!
Cheers........Rob