Accept rate capping to restore faith in local councils, Local Government Minister Stephan Knoll tells councils
SA councils will hear Local Government Minister Stephan Knoll’s final attempt to change their minds on rate capping on Friday — and if he’s successful, it paves the way for the legislation to easily pass. Here’s what he plans to say.
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ACCEPT rate-capping legislation and restore faith among your ratepayers, Local Government Minister Stephan Knoll will tell councils on Friday during a final attempt to convince them of the State Government’s flagship policy.
Adelaide Town Hall will host more than 200 South Australian mayors, elected members, chief executives and council staff at what will be the final sector-wide meeting before each of the state’s 68 councils go away and hold votes before August 3 on whether the LGA should support the State Government proposal to cap rates.
The LGA meeting will provide Mr Knoll with his last chance to address the sector — which has been sceptical of the Liberal Party pledge — about why they should support the policy to limit rate rises.
If councils largely support the policy, tweaked by the State Government to include the ability to raise rates to cover new development costs, then it would be a giant step towards the legislation passing the Upper House after key crossbenchers said they’d strongly consider backing it if local government gives its blessing.
Mr Knoll saidthat Friday was local government’s chance to prove to the state they are on the side of ratepayers.
“The rate capping process should give confidence to ratepayers that their councils are spending their money more wisely,” he said.
“Our rate capping policy strikes the right balance between keeping the cost of living down and allowing for growth.
“We need to change the conversation from ‘how much can we spend’ to ‘how can we do more with what we’ve got.”
“Rate capping is about restoring faith in local councils,” he said.
“This is local government’s chance to prove to South Australians that they’re on the side of ratepayers.”
The Essential Services Commission of SA, which already has oversight of utilities and water bill rises, will decide the maximum council rate increase by the end of December.
Councils will have until March 31 to seek special circumstances exemptions from the limit, before the cap comes into force from July 1 next year.
Councils will also hear from ESCOSA chief executive Adam Wilson, LGNSW president Linda Scott, Municipal Association of Victoria deputy president David Clark and University of Technology Sydney Professor Roberta Ryan about the effects of the proposed model and other interstate rate caps.
LGA President Sue Clearihan said it would be a vital meeting in the history of local government in South Australia and a final sector position would be established after the August 3 deadline.
“The implementation of rate capping would be the biggest change for South Australian councils in decades,” she said. “We must take this opportunity to hear from our entire sector before forming a final position on the legislation.”
Labor local government spokesman Tony Piccolo, Greens MLC Mark Parnell, SA Best’s Frank Pangallo and Advance SA’s John Darley will take part in a panel discussion.