Renewable energy infrastructure
Joe McCRACKEN (Western Victoria) (12:42): (1100) My question is to the Treasurer. The PILOR scheme penalises councils that host energy infrastructure. For example, for existing wind farms Moorabool shire are collecting just 38 per cent of the rate revenue they would normally collect under the CIV-based rating system applied to all other properties. So, Treasurer, how do you justify creating this inequity amongst councils, particularly rural councils?
The PRESIDENT: Sorry, Mr McCracken, would you mind repeating the question?
Joe McCRACKEN: The PILOR scheme, it is called – payment in lieu of rates.
Jaclyn Symes: Sorry; I couldn’t hear you.
Joe McCRACKEN: I am happy to. My question was about the PILOR – payment in lieu of rates – scheme, which penalises councils that host energy infrastructure, and the example I gave was of Moorabool shire. They collect just 38 per cent of the rates they would normally collect under the CIV-based system, which all other properties are subject to. So my question is: how do you justify creating that inequity, particularly for rural councils that host energy infrastructure? Many city councils cannot.
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (12:43): I thank Mr McCracken for repeating the question, because I was trying to find a hook in that to be helpful in answering as the Treasurer. The policy recognises the importance of building renewables, but the actual application of the policy and the question that you have asked are better directed to the minister for energy. It is not within my portfolio – the specifics of what you have asked. I can pass it along. You would get a more detailed answer from the minister for energy, because it is her policy, not mine.
Joe McCRACKEN (Western Victoria) (12:44): Thank you, Treasurer, for that response. I have had correspondence from a number of my local councils that say that this impacts the financial viability of their operations going forward, and when you have got a significant cut to rate revenue, that has an impact. So my question is: do you intend to take a review of the impact of this particular scheme on the financial viability of councils to see if it is actually going to work going forward or not?
The PRESIDENT: It is hard to put that question after the minister answered that this particular issue does not fall within her remit. The minister may pass it on again.