The Marshall Liberal Government has walked away from its promise to deliver any form of rate capping for ratepayers.
The Liberals have watered down their bill so much, that councils will now only receive general financial advice – and don’t have to follow it anyway!
The Liberals themselves have withdrawn the Ministerial power to direct councils to reduce their rates – leaving no means for forcing down rates.
Curiously, the government has not publicly revealed this backdown on one of its flagship election policies.
The Liberals have also quietly adopted a number of measures put forward by Labor, including tackling local government waste and rorts.
Labor was willing to provide qualified support for the government’s bill, but the Liberals have now walked away from their own legislation.
Quotes attributable to Shadow Minister for Local Government Jayne Stinson
Rate capping is dead - and the Marshall Liberal Government killed it.
Steven Marshall and Vickie Chapman have abandoned their pre-election promise to cap council rates.
The Liberals have now watered down their bill to the extent there’s now no legally enforceable cap on council rates and the Minister can’t direct rate reductions.
The Liberals are clearly ashamed of this backdown. They haven’t even announced this change of heart publicly.
Labor remains committed to protecting ratepayers, improving council performance and tackling local government waste and rorts and will introduce amendments in the Legislative Council.