WHEN it comes to the disparity between regional Victoria and Melbourne, there is no greater example than in the local government rates we pay.
A home owner in Mildura can pay up to four times the rates compared to a home of similar value in suburban Melbourne. It’s disgusting.
So when Sunraysia Daily sat down with Victorian Liberal leader Michael O’Brien in Mildura this week, I asked him whether he felt the disparity in local government rates should be addressed and equalised across the state?
Sadly, for a politician who accuses the current State Government of being very Melbourne-focused, his response was every bit as city-centric and deflective.
“I don’t think that people in metropolitan Melbourne should have to subsidise council operations in regional Victoria, but I do think that state government, in particular the current state government, has been cost shifting from state government to regional councils,” Mr O’Brien said.
It’s the sort of response us country folk have come to expect from both sides of government, who are unwilling to upset their city voter base, even if levelling a woefully lopsided playing field is what is fair and right.
Remember, local government rates are essentially a tax for services.
It is to service roads, rubbish, gardens, swimming pools, footy ovals and council facilities, among other things.
But after local government amalgamations many years ago, municipalities such as Mildura now stretch tens of thousands of square kilometres, picking up bins in Murrayville on the SA border and cleaning pools in Merbein.
And then you have got a road network to maintain, which can include spending millions to remove red Mallee soil after dust storms.
They are the sort of imposts that suburban Melbourne councils would never have to even think about, hence their much lower rate base.
You don’t need as much money to look after a few square blocks of pristine roads, sporting fields and libraries around heavily-populated Kew.
And it’s also a much smaller garbage route in the affluent Yarra Council compared to virtually the entire north west of the state.
Member for Mildura Ali Cupper has launched a campaign titled RatesGate calling for a better system.
It’s an issue that matters to every home owner in the bush, yet it continues to receive lip service from city-based politicians like Mr O’Brien.
“I acknowledge that they (regional councils) have larger areas and lower population density, which means there’s more built into the costs for local governments in regional areas,” he said of the rate disparity.
“I think that’s where the state government should be stepping up and doing more to assist local governments.
“I’m not talking about changing the way that rates are necessarily set, but if local government had more support from the state government, they wouldn’t need to impose such high rates as they do.”
Yawn. Next.
The Liberal leader plans to regularly visit Mildura in the lead up to next year’s state election, as he claims regional Victoria is being ignored by Labor and wants to listen to the people.
So, on his next visit, can I suggest he ask these local people what they think of the rates they pay. And whether they think they are being treated fairly as fellow Victorians? I suspect he already knows the answer.
“I acknowledge the problem, and I’m agreeing with you, there’s a problem,” Mr O’Brien said this week.
“My solution would be more state government investment in regional Victoria, to take some of the rate burden of regional councils, instead of cost shifting.”
Sorry, Mr Opposition leader, that “solution” doesn’t go anywhere near far enough.
If you believe the regions don’t have a voice under the current state government, well, here’s a chance to show us you’re fair dinkum.
Fight to fix what you know is a “problem”. Start walking the talk.
