❓ Dr. Brian Walker questions the government about implementing a rates cap for WA local governments, similar to Victoria. The government is prioritizing reforms to the Local Government Act, focusing on accountability and transparency instead.
AnsweredQoN 54Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
LOCAL GOVERNMENT —
RATES CAP
54. Hon
Dr BRIAN WALKER to the minister representing the Minister for Local
Government:
I refer the minister to media
reports that the Victorian government is considering setting a rates cap of 3.5
per cent for its local government sector
this year, after tabling a report in December that stated that rates capping
was successful in its aim of alleviating expenses to ratepayers and
forcing councils to manage their finances more appropriately.
(1) Is the
McGowan government considering, or will it consider, a rates cap for Western Australian
local governments in 2023–24?
(2) If yes to (1), what level of
cap is being considered?
(3) If no to (1), why not; and will the government at
the very least consider offering advice to local governments on what it
considers an appropriate scale for any rates increases?
RATES CAP
54. Hon
Dr BRIAN WALKER to the minister representing the Minister for Local
Government:
I refer the minister to media
reports that the Victorian government is considering setting a rates cap of 3.5
per cent for its local government sector
this year, after tabling a report in December that stated that rates capping
was successful in its aim of alleviating expenses to ratepayers and
forcing councils to manage their finances more appropriately.
(1) Is the
McGowan government considering, or will it consider, a rates cap for Western Australian
local governments in 2023–24?
(2) If yes to (1), what level of
cap is being considered?
(3) If no to (1), why not; and will the government at
the very least consider offering advice to local governments on what it
considers an appropriate scale for any rates increases?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following answer has been provided by the
Minister for Local Government.
(1)–(3) The
state government is currently prioritising the largest package of reforms to
the Local Government Act 1995 in over 25
years. Significantly, the announced reforms contain a range of increased
accountability and transparency measures, including standardising
financial reporting, the creation of several online registers, and a rates and
revenue policy that will make it easier for ratepayers to see how their local
government is budgeting.
some notice of the question. The following answer has been provided by the
Minister for Local Government.
(1)–(3) The
state government is currently prioritising the largest package of reforms to
the Local Government Act 1995 in over 25
years. Significantly, the announced reforms contain a range of increased
accountability and transparency measures, including standardising
financial reporting, the creation of several online registers, and a rates and
revenue policy that will make it easier for ratepayers to see how their local
government is budgeting.
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