❓ Mr. Krsticevic questions the Minister for Local Government about council rate increases exceeding CPI. The Minister acknowledges council autonomy but urges consideration of household budgets and community feedback, highlighting the importance of transparent communication and participation in the rate-setting process.
AnsweredQoN 528Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
LOCAL GOVERNMENT —
COUNCIL RATE INCREASES
528. Mr A. KRSTICEVIC to the Minister for Local Government:
What
has the minister done to stop a number of councils from increasing their rates
well above the consumer price index?
COUNCIL RATE INCREASES
528. Mr A. KRSTICEVIC to the Minister for Local Government:
What
has the minister done to stop a number of councils from increasing their rates
well above the consumer price index?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
As the member is very, very clearly aware, councils are autonomous entities
that of course have the powers to set rates, including their rates for each
year, and it is not within my powers to direct councils to comply with any
limit. However, as the member knows and as he highlighted to me when we had a discussion
yesterday, and as I commented in today's newspaper—when asked—all
local governments in Western Australia should be very cognisant that many
families have tightened their financial belts to ensure that they are making
ends meet and are able to meet the obligations of their personal household
budgets, and rates, like any other costs, impact on that budget. Therefore, I would
encourage, very strongly, local governments to very carefully consider the
needs of their community when they set the rates.
There is an advertising period, as the member is well aware,
and I encourage ratepayers and businesses within local government jurisdictions
to comment on those advertised rates, because it is an important part of their
democracy for them to give feedback to a local government about the proposed
rate settings. Traditionally, my understanding is that lots of local
governments do not necessarily get a huge amount of correspondence or feedback
on rate settings, even though there may be some angst in the community about
the rate that is finalised and set. However, I recommend very, very strongly to
all ratepayers and all local businesses within those jurisdictions that when
the rates are advertised, they take the democratic opportunity that they have
towards them, and let their councils know about their views.
The other important thing about
rate setting is that councils have an obligation, in my view, to articulate to
their communities, to communicate to their communities, the priorities of their
local government and the costs associated with their priorities, and to seek
feedback. A good local government has strong communications with its community
and engages with its community at an early stage about priorities for that
community, including, of course, how those will be funded, and, ultimately,
what that rate might be.
As the member is well aware, the
newspaper article today highlighted that some councils have advertised rates
above CPI; some have proposed rates below that. Of course, I would expect that
the communities within those jurisdictions that are unhappy would make their
voices heard. It is important that they make their voices heard. I have made
some public statements, as I think the member for Carine has. I think the
member supports the public statements that I have made. I do not think he has
disagreed with my comments. But this is another example of why we need to have
good legislation passed in the other place, which includes, of course, a universal
training regime, which includes in its focus making sure that local government
elected members —
Mr R.S. Love interjected.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : What
is wrong with the member? Does he have a problem? What is the member's
problem?
Mr R.S. Love : Why didn't
you introduce it on 9 May?
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Why does
the member not have his mate from north coastal here? What is his story? I heard
there were a few problems yesterday. He was playing rugby in the morning and he
was as crook as a dog in the afternoon. If he is unwell, I am sorry he is
unwell, but it is very, very suspicious. I think the member for Moore was
running around behind the scenes, trying to quell any change in the leadership
of the National Party. The member was running
around and saying, ''Dear me, this is a bit upsetting'', like
Captain Mainwaring in Dad's Army . That is what the
member looks like; he looks like Captain Mainwaring in Dad's Army .
Let me get back to the point, Captain Mainwaring.
The SPEAKER : Minister, you
will call the member by his correct title.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Members
who remember Dad's Army would know of a character called Walker
who was always trying to make deals. I wonder which member of the Nationals
that might refer to, because he ain't here today! Anyway, I am happy to
answer the question.
Local government rate setting is a very
important time of the year. I urge all interested people who are concerned
about the rates that are set to make sure they let their views be known to
their local government.
As the member is very, very clearly aware, councils are autonomous entities
that of course have the powers to set rates, including their rates for each
year, and it is not within my powers to direct councils to comply with any
limit. However, as the member knows and as he highlighted to me when we had a discussion
yesterday, and as I commented in today's newspaper—when asked—all
local governments in Western Australia should be very cognisant that many
families have tightened their financial belts to ensure that they are making
ends meet and are able to meet the obligations of their personal household
budgets, and rates, like any other costs, impact on that budget. Therefore, I would
encourage, very strongly, local governments to very carefully consider the
needs of their community when they set the rates.
There is an advertising period, as the member is well aware,
and I encourage ratepayers and businesses within local government jurisdictions
to comment on those advertised rates, because it is an important part of their
democracy for them to give feedback to a local government about the proposed
rate settings. Traditionally, my understanding is that lots of local
governments do not necessarily get a huge amount of correspondence or feedback
on rate settings, even though there may be some angst in the community about
the rate that is finalised and set. However, I recommend very, very strongly to
all ratepayers and all local businesses within those jurisdictions that when
the rates are advertised, they take the democratic opportunity that they have
towards them, and let their councils know about their views.
The other important thing about
rate setting is that councils have an obligation, in my view, to articulate to
their communities, to communicate to their communities, the priorities of their
local government and the costs associated with their priorities, and to seek
feedback. A good local government has strong communications with its community
and engages with its community at an early stage about priorities for that
community, including, of course, how those will be funded, and, ultimately,
what that rate might be.
As the member is well aware, the
newspaper article today highlighted that some councils have advertised rates
above CPI; some have proposed rates below that. Of course, I would expect that
the communities within those jurisdictions that are unhappy would make their
voices heard. It is important that they make their voices heard. I have made
some public statements, as I think the member for Carine has. I think the
member supports the public statements that I have made. I do not think he has
disagreed with my comments. But this is another example of why we need to have
good legislation passed in the other place, which includes, of course, a universal
training regime, which includes in its focus making sure that local government
elected members —
Mr R.S. Love interjected.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : What
is wrong with the member? Does he have a problem? What is the member's
problem?
Mr R.S. Love : Why didn't
you introduce it on 9 May?
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Why does
the member not have his mate from north coastal here? What is his story? I heard
there were a few problems yesterday. He was playing rugby in the morning and he
was as crook as a dog in the afternoon. If he is unwell, I am sorry he is
unwell, but it is very, very suspicious. I think the member for Moore was
running around behind the scenes, trying to quell any change in the leadership
of the National Party. The member was running
around and saying, ''Dear me, this is a bit upsetting'', like
Captain Mainwaring in Dad's Army . That is what the
member looks like; he looks like Captain Mainwaring in Dad's Army .
Let me get back to the point, Captain Mainwaring.
The SPEAKER : Minister, you
will call the member by his correct title.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Members
who remember Dad's Army would know of a character called Walker
who was always trying to make deals. I wonder which member of the Nationals
that might refer to, because he ain't here today! Anyway, I am happy to
answer the question.
Local government rate setting is a very
important time of the year. I urge all interested people who are concerned
about the rates that are set to make sure they let their views be known to
their local government.
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