Another kicking for NSW councils as rate cap reduced

Don’t raise your rates by more than 1.8%: IPART.

8 December, 2015

Ratecapping redux: Victorian councils fear NSW councils’ fate

The introduction of ratecapping in Victoria has cast a shadow over its local councils.

2 December, 2015

NSW councils give government minister a serve

Paul Toole in the firing line.

12 October, 2015

Rates, roads and water: Local Government NSW conference

NSW councils’ Rosehill meeting

8 October, 2015

WA councils rail against rate capping

Minister backs away from inquiry but wants discussion.

11 August, 2015

South Australian pensioners left out in the cold

South Australian councils in peril over pensioner concessions.

21 April, 2015

Ratings guide doesn’t rate: MAV

By Julian Bajkowski   The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) has taken the state government to task over what it claims are “serious shortcomings” revealed in draft differential rating guidelines.   A new submission by the MAV urges the Napthine government to adopt “greater support to develop rating strategies” as the state’s local government sector […]

19 March, 2013

Council transparency under fire from Vic Auditor

By Julian Bajkowski Victoria’s Auditor General has criticised the state’s 79 councils over a glaring lack of clarity and detail in the way they determine and reveal how more than $4 billion in rates and charges a year are levied on constituents, despite the local governments having a “common rating framework.”  In a report issued […]

21 February, 2013

Legal headaches for NSW land values

By Julian Bajkowski and Paul Hemsley The government of New South Wales could soon be in the bizarre position of attempting to sue itself after the head of a parliamentary committee holding an inquiry into the state’s Land Valuation System suggested that Broken Hill City Council consider litigation against the state’s Valuer General. The unprecedented […]

11 February, 2013

Moving beyond roads, rates and rubbish

Australian councils have transformed themselves beyond a narrow focus on ‘roads, rates and rubbish’ and are successfully delivering broader objectives to promote social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing of communities.   Those are the findings of a new a study prepared for the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government (ACELG) which argues that councils […]

17 August, 2012

Injured veterans guaranteed discount council rates

By Staff Writer The New South Wales Government has announced that it will protect the entitlement of seriously injured war veterans to a concession on council rates. Local Government Minister Barbara Perry said new State Government regulation would protect the rights of service men and women to receive a concession. “We want to ensure that hardworking NSW […]

28 September, 2009

Council rates tipped to rise in Queensland

By Staff Writer The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) has advised councils to consider a rate hike of up to eight per cent this year. LGAQ executive director Greg Hallam said councils would be justified in raising rates by six to eight per cent in 2009-2010 budgets. “Last year’s Productivity Commission report into council […]

11 May, 2009

More cash when rates work harder

By Rachel Borchardt Councils in search of additional internal revenue must be prepared to overhaul their old rating systems, according to local government consultant Alan Morton. Speaking at the Local Government Association of Queensland’s 2009 Infrastructure Symposium in Brisbane, Morton outlined ways for councils to deepen revenue pools and rethink their approach to general rates […]

30 April, 2009

Changes to NSW rating regulations are welcomed

By Staff Writer Regulatory changes related to the separation of land and water for rating purposes will help councils continue to provide essential infrastructure and services for their communities, says the Shires Association of NSW. Announced by Local Government Minister Paul Lynch, the amendments will make it easier for councils to maintain their rate revenue […]

31 May, 2007