Wednesday, 21 September 2022

 Mrs McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (20:24): (2142) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Local Government and concerns the extraordinary situation facing Glenelg Shire Council ratepayers. This year the Glenelg council changes its rating method, transitioning from a rebate to a differential rating system. The Fair Go for Glenelg Shire Ratepayers Group has advised me that this change is catastrophic, with a 20 per cent increase in the general rate and 22 per cent for primary production land. The fair go group has rightly described it as a blatant grab for money. This comes at a time when a 2 per cent rate cap is in place across the state. The council argues that it is technically still within a 1.75 per cent rate cap. In reality, the Glenelg councillors have enabled a rate rise in excess of eight times the rate cap. It is tricky maths. It also comes at a time when cost-of-living expenses, including interest rates, are on the rise and rise. Energy costs are set to spiral, milk costs more, bread costs more, fruit and vegetables cost more and in the Glenelg shire the rates will cost 20 per cent more. It is highly likely that some ratepayers will not be able to afford the change. One farmer, Howard Templeton, said the change will push his rate bill from $25 000 to $40 000. He has described the rating change as ‘morally wrong’.

Such is the anger about the rating change that more than 1700 people have signed a petition. The petition is directed to the Essential Services Commission, the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office and the Victorian Inspectorate office. The petition seeks a full audit inquiry of the Glenelg Shire Council proceedings and financial management. The petitioners:

… challenge the legitimacy of the 2022–2023 Budget … that was passed on Tuesday June 28—

this year—

and which seeks to impose HUGE and DISPROPORTIONATE rate increases upon the wider community within the Shire.

Regional Victorians are already well alert to the fact that this Andrews Labor government only cares about proceedings, perceptions and politics within the tram tracks of Melbourne. Despite this, the action I seek from the minister is to take up the petitioners’ desperate position and initiate a review into the rating change at the Glenelg Shire Council and a broader inquiry into the Glenelg Shire Council itself.