FOR those unhappy with the rate hikes from the Glenelg Shire Council – local candidates in the upcoming State Election are on your side.
South-West Coast incumbent Liberal MP Roma Britnell and independents Carol Altmann and Michael McCluskey are all vocal in their criticism of council’s actions, while Labor challenger Kylie Gaston is not making her views public, saying she wants to keep her campaign focused on state issues.
While none of the candidates say the rate increases contravene the Local Government Act, they do say it is not fair on ratepayers,
Earlier in the month when the Fair Go ratepayer group renewed their call to have the budget overturned, Mayor Anita Rank told The Observer that council’s actions were “all above board.”
“It’s been to the inspectorate, it’s been to the Ombudsman, it’s been to Local Government Victoria, it’s been to the minister, it’s been to opposition politicians…and now VAGO, so that really completes the chessboard of checks and balances for the organisation,” she said.
The issue was brought into the election debate last week by Ms Altmann, who says the rates in this year’s Glenelg Shire budget must be reversed by the Local Government minister and council forced to uphold the spirit of the State Government rate cap.
“The Glenelg Shire Council has found a legal loophole through changing its rebate scheme which will see residential rates rise by an average of 18.72% and farmers’ rates by an extraordinary 22.28% - miles above the 1.75% cap,” she said.
“This decision is completely out of step with the spirit of the cap and it’s no wonder ratepayers right across the Glenelg Shire are angry.
“From my reading, and the submission to council by the Victorian Farmers Federation, the communication and transparency around this decision was also extremely poor and ratepayers feel they have been duped.”
“This is not how local councils should be encouraged to behave…There is no quicker way for a council to break the trust of the community than to try and manipulate legal loopholes.”
If elected, the independent candidate says she will fight for a State Government intervention to happen immediately.
Similarly, Ms Britnell says the Glenelg Shire’s Councillors have “repeatedly let their ratepayers down.”
The current sitting South-West Coast member has previously been vocal on the rates issue, raising it in Parliament and speaking out against the rise in The Observer previously.
She lays some of the blame with the State Government and says the Liberals strongly support reform of Victoria’s rating system and funding for councils, to make them focus on their “core responsibilities” of roads and rubbish.
“In 2010 the councillors oversaw the introduction of a rebate system for primary production and farmland that was contrary to the provisions of the Local Government Act,” Ms Britnell said.
“In 2022, at a time of rapidly increasing cost of living pressures their tone-deaf refusal to gradually transition to the differential system over a period of time to ease the rate burden is disappointing.
“The Glenelg Shire Councillors decision to apply the full 1.75 per cent rate increase across the Shire was a further cruel blow.
“The Glenelg Shire Councillors have adopted this course of action in full knowledge that the Local Government Act does not allow a budget to be rescinded after its adoption and enactment.
“This means the Glenelg Shire ratepayers are stuck with this rate burden for a full 12-month period before anything can be done.
“The conduct of the Glenelg Shire Councillors illustrates that Daniel Andrews’ “Fair Go Rates” policy is a sham.
“The rate cap does not apply to individual rate increases; it acts as a restriction on the total rate revenue levied by the Council.
“As we have seen in Glenelg, the rate cap does not prevent an individual’s rates from increasing by a greater percentage than the rate cap of 1.75 per cent.
Speaking with The Observer, Ms Gaston declined to weigh in, but says she is aware that there are strong feelings on the issue from Glenelg Shire ratepayers.
“Having been on council myself, I believe local government decisions are their own, and should be respected as such,” said the former Warrnambool mayor.
“I’m running in a state election and that is a local government decision, I don’t feel it’s my place.”
“However, I have been listening to views on the matter, and will continue to listen.”
Mr McCluskey said that as a primary producer himself, it “beggars belief” that the increase, particularly on farmers, can be described as fair and equitable.
“Whilst the increases might fulfil legislative standards it certainly doesn’t mean they fulfil ‘moral standards’ and I can understand why farmers see it as a ‘cash grab’, he said.
“Just as importantly town residents are already being hit by increasing inflation, higher fuel and power prices and rising mortgage payments. “To expect them to face big rate increases is also unfair. Pushing some people to the brink of financial survival like this can have flow on effects to mental health as well.
“Having worked in the public service and seen first-hand the level of waste and ineptitude that goes on in bureaucracy I would like to see the Shire, and all levels of government, take a leaf out of the book of what any wise farmer or business owner does which is to focus on improving their own levels of efficiency and productivity gains first.
“For example, the two major parties ‘smoked’ over a billion dollars’ worth of taxpayer money at the last state election in regards to the proposed EastWest Link which was dumped after contracts had been entered into.
“To put this in perspective the money that was wasted could have fully funded the Maroona-Portland train line upgrade 5-10 times over. This would have had the triple effect of reducing road damage, enhancing road safety and making our grain exports more competitive on the world market.
“Once any of the council’s inefficiencies and bloated staffing levels are dealt with and any marginally useful expenditures are dropped then any rate increases deemed necessary ought to be adjusted on a more gradual and fairer basis.”
