Assessing Local Government Revenue Raising Capacity

Productivity Commission

Full Report on www.pc.gov.au/study/localgovernment

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As President of Victorian Ratepayers I, Jack Davis, attended the forum of the above which was held on Wednesday 27th February 2008.

I must say that I was impressed with the representatives who attended.  See list below.

I was concerned that if local councils are expected to raise revenue to become self sufficient, in my opinion it would be an additional burden on ratepayers and residents and may well be the issue that will see Ratepayers unite, as we have all had enough of cost shifting.

As one of the first speakers on this subject I expressed my concerns and stated that if this was the intentions of the Commonwealth Government, then they were heading down a dangerous path. I stated that I was concerned that Ratepayers and residents were already over taxed with rates and fees.

Cost shifting by State Government was the biggest problem that local Councils have had to bear. Several billion dollars have already been stripped from local government finances.

Grants, or the lack of, dominated the meeting with almost all attendees expressing their concerns.

It was my opinion that very little was achieved accept to say that a lot was said with very little progress.

It was a major concern that the commissioner stated that they were not empowered to make any recommendation, and could only to submit their report

I look forward to the final report by the Commissioners.

I suggest a look at the following web site .

LAUNCESTON RATEPAYERS
ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED.

http://www.launcestonratepayers.intas.net.au/

An appropriate citation for this paper is:

Productivity Commission 2007, Assessing Local Government Revenue Raising

Capacity, Draft Research Report, Canberra.

 The Productivity Commission

The Productivity Commission, an independent agency, is the Australian Government’s principal review and advisory body on microeconomic policy and regulation.

 It conducts public inquiries and research into a broad range of economic and social issues affecting the welfare of Australians.

The Commission’s independence is underpinned by an Act of Parliament.

Its processes and outputs are open to public scrutiny and are driven by consideration for the wellbeing of the community as a whole.

Information on the Productivity Commission, its publications and its current work program can be found on the World Wide Web at www.pc.gov.au or by contacting Media and Publications on (03) 9653 2244.

Participants                                        Representatives

National organizations                                                                                      

Dept of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional-                                                       Mr Michael Pahlow, General Manager and Mr Barry O’Neill, Section Head Local Government (observers)

-Development and Local Government                                                                        

Australian Chief Executive Officers Group                                                          Mr David Spokes, Convenor and Chief Executive Officer City of Port Phillip

State/Territory departments/agencies

NSW Dept of Local Government                                                                        Mr Ross Woodward, Deputy Director General

Victorian Dept of Planning and Community Development                                 Mr John Watson, Victorian Planning and Local Government

Queensland Dept of Local Government, Sport and Recreation                            Dr Nancy Spencer, Executive Director Strategic Policy and Legislation

WA Dept of Local Government and Regional Development                               Mr Andrew Main, Acting Manager Policy and Mr Ross Mannion ex-Manager Policy by videoconference

SA Office for State/Local Government Relations                                                Mr Mick Petrovski, Director Local Government Relations                                          

NT Dept of Local Government Housing and Sport                                             Mr Des Harris, Director Policy and Legislation

Australian Local Government Association                                                          Mr Adrian Beresford-Wylie, Chief Executive

Local Government Managers’ Australia                                                             Mr John Ravlic, Chief Executive

Local Government Association of NSW and Shires Association of NSW           Mr Shaun McBride, Strategy Manager

Municipal Association of Victoria                                                                      Mr Trevor Koops, Senior Economist

Victorian Local Governance Association                                                            Cr Peter Russell, Treasurer, VLGA Office Bearer

Local Government Association of Queensland                                                    Ms Natalie Kent, Finance Manager

WA Local Government Association                                                                   Mr Ian Duncan, Economist

Local Government Association of SA                                                                 Mr Chris Russell, Director Policy and Public Affairs

Local Government Association of Tasmania                                                      Dr Katrena Stephenson, Policy Director

Local Government Association of the NT                                                          Mr Tony Tapsell, Chief Executive Officer

Non-local government peak/advocacy organisations                                Representatives

Victorian Farmers Federation                                                                            Mr Graeme Ford, Executive Manager Policy and Mr Geoff Crick, VFF Economics (Observer)

 Ex- MP for Gippsland East 1961—92                                                              Mr Bruce Evans, Adviser to Craig Ingram MP

Ratepayers Victoria                                                                                           Mr Jack Davis, President

NSW Business Chamber                                                                                     Ms Kathy Rankin, Senior Policy Officer

State Grants Commission Tasmania                                                                   Mr Glen Appleyard, Nominee of the Secretary Dept Treasury and Finance

RATEPAYERS VICTORIA, Inc. A0040924M - PO BOX 1057 Huntingdale, Victoria 3166