❓ A WA parliamentary question regarding the financial impact on local governments, specifically the Shire of Denmark, due to the transfer of state-owned housing to not-for-profit organisations and the subsequent loss of rate revenue. The Minister's response details the rates paid and clarifies the government's position.
AnsweredQoN 8120Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Is the Minister aware that within the Shire of Denmark the State Government currently pays approximately $75,000 in rates for Department-owned housing?
(2) Is the Minister aware that by transferring ownership of government-built housing to not-for-profits the same dwellings become rate-exempt?
(3) What assistance does the State Government intend to provide to the Shire of Denmark as compensation for this loss of rates?
(4) Across Western Australia, how many State community housing assets have been transferred by the Department of Housing to not-for-profit organisations since the election of the Barnett Government (please list by local government and the rates paid by the State on each property before the handover)?
(5) What is the saving to Government in not having to pay local council rates on the properties?
(2) Is the Minister aware that by transferring ownership of government-built housing to not-for-profits the same dwellings become rate-exempt?
(3) What assistance does the State Government intend to provide to the Shire of Denmark as compensation for this loss of rates?
(4) Across Western Australia, how many State community housing assets have been transferred by the Department of Housing to not-for-profit organisations since the election of the Barnett Government (please list by local government and the rates paid by the State on each property before the handover)?
(5) What is the saving to Government in not having to pay local council rates on the properties?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
1 August 2012
Responded by
Minister for Housing
Response time
50 days
The Department of Housing advises:
(1) For 2011-12, the department paid $107 244 in rates for department-owned housing in Denmark.
(2) The exemption of Community Housing Organisations from local council rates is at the discretion of the Local Government Area, based on a perceived public benefit provision. While the Housing Authority pays rates, it could be considered that land under the management of the Housing Authority for public housing purposes is also non-rateable.
(3) The State Government does not have a policy of compensating Local Government Authorities where land is non-rateable.
(4-5) As at 30 April 2012, 1216 housing assets have been transferred to not-for-profit organisations. Below is a summary of rates paid by the department prior to transfer.
Please note the majority of assets transferred were new construction or recent acquisitions and full rates were not payable by the Department of Housing prior to transfer.
# Assets Transferred Shire / Council $ paid
70 City of Albany $16 898
81 City Of Armadale $3688
18 City of Bayswater Nil
16 City Of Belmont Nil
5 City Of Bunbury $3048
12 City of Busselton $723
44 City Of Canning $1815
24 City of Cockburn $5425
22 City Of Gosnells $6486
9 City of Kalgoorlie Boulder $1080
264 City Of Mandurah $13 641
90 City Of Stirling $16 014
44 City Of Swan $13 417
171 City Of Wanneroo $31 538
14 Geraldton-Greenough City Council$3684
6 Rockingham City Council $890
56 Shire of Broome Nil
113 Shire Of Capel $3122
9 Shire Of Denmark Nil
12 Shire of Harvey $3983
6 Shire of Irwin $432
1 Shire Of Kalamunda $2484
22 Shire of Murray $3353
10 Shire Of Narrogin $3700
15 Town of Bassendean Nil
82 Town of Kwinana $23 058
1216 Total $15 8481
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
(1) For 2011-12, the department paid $107 244 in rates for department-owned housing in Denmark.
(2) The exemption of Community Housing Organisations from local council rates is at the discretion of the Local Government Area, based on a perceived public benefit provision. While the Housing Authority pays rates, it could be considered that land under the management of the Housing Authority for public housing purposes is also non-rateable.
(3) The State Government does not have a policy of compensating Local Government Authorities where land is non-rateable.
(4-5) As at 30 April 2012, 1216 housing assets have been transferred to not-for-profit organisations. Below is a summary of rates paid by the department prior to transfer.
Please note the majority of assets transferred were new construction or recent acquisitions and full rates were not payable by the Department of Housing prior to transfer.
# Assets Transferred Shire / Council $ paid
70 City of Albany $16 898
81 City Of Armadale $3688
18 City of Bayswater Nil
16 City Of Belmont Nil
5 City Of Bunbury $3048
12 City of Busselton $723
44 City Of Canning $1815
24 City of Cockburn $5425
22 City Of Gosnells $6486
9 City of Kalgoorlie Boulder $1080
264 City Of Mandurah $13 641
90 City Of Stirling $16 014
44 City Of Swan $13 417
171 City Of Wanneroo $31 538
14 Geraldton-Greenough City Council$3684
6 Rockingham City Council $890
56 Shire of Broome Nil
113 Shire Of Capel $3122
9 Shire Of Denmark Nil
12 Shire of Harvey $3983
6 Shire of Irwin $432
1 Shire Of Kalamunda $2484
22 Shire of Murray $3353
10 Shire Of Narrogin $3700
15 Town of Bassendean Nil
82 Town of Kwinana $23 058
1216 Total $15 8481
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.