South Australia’s council lobby in six figure anti-rate capping splurge

THE Local Government Association South Australia spent over $200,000 in the lead up to the State Election, with nearly $175,000 going to oppose the push by the State Government to cap rates.

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THE Local Government Association South Australia spent over $200,000 in the lead up to the State Election, with nearly $175,000 going to oppose the push by the State Government to cap rates.

The campaign by the local government was one of two it embarked on in the lead up to the March poll, with the other being against State Government cost shifting.

One of the Liberal Party’s key policy platforms during its successful campaign was to cap rates among the state’s councils, saying it will save rayepayers millions of dollars a year.

The LGA and some councils came out swinging against the push, saying it will result in services being cut and hurt councils.

The LGA has to disclose the amount it spent in the lead up to the campaign and the organisation’s chief executive Matt Pinnegar said $211,800 was spent all up.

Mr Pinnegar said $174,338 was spent on the campaign against the rate capping policy and $37,462 on cost shifting.

“Rate capping and cost shifting are the two biggest threats facing South Australian councils and the LGA ran sector supported and board endorsed campaigns on both of these issues in the lead up to the 2018 state election,” he said.

“We ran a prudent and effective campaign against the policy and not a party.

“The ALP, SA Best and the Greens all publicly opposed rate capping prior to the election and won seven out of the eleven available seats in the Upper House.”

Mr Pinnegar said member subscriptions from councils were not used to fund the campaign, with the money coming from other revenue.

More to come.