Paul Weller tables VFF’s rates petition in Victorian Parliament

A PETITION demanding an inquiry into rural and regional municipal rates was tabled in Parliament today.

Paul Weller, Victorian member for Rodney at the Great Petition Sculpture with a VFF Rates Petition containing 3190 signatures. Picture: ANDY ROGERS

A PETITION demanding an inquiry into the rural and regional municipal rates system was tabled in the Victorian Parliament today.

MP Paul Weller tabled the petition, with 3300 signatures, on behalf of the Victorian Farmers Federation, which argues farmers bear too much of the rate burden.

Mr Weller said he supported a rating review but stopped short of saying farmers were paying too much.

“I am always happy to present petitions my constituents have signed,” Mr Weller said.

“I support the call for a review. I think it’s good practice to review how the rates are distributed. There should be reviews from time to time to see if the balance is right.”

Victorian Farmers Federation President Peter Tuohey hoped it would lead to a pre-election commitment for an inquiry from the major parties.

It asks for “the attention of the House to the inequitable rating system applied to farmland by regional local governments”.

“The current rating system is based on the valuation of land and its improvements,” the petition says.

“This means there is an assumption those who own higher-valued assets have a greater capacity to pay.

“Victoria’s farmers shoulder approximately 46 per cent of the business rates burden in regional Victoria, but only make up around 12 per cent of the regional economy.”

Mr Tuohey said the VFF was not attacking local government but wanted to find a way to ensure more equitable rates were applied to farmland.

“Farmers are frustrated at bearing an ever greater share of the municipal rates burden,” Mr Tuohey said.

Local Government Minister Tim Bull would not confirm if the government would conduct an inquiry but pointed to ministerial guidelines on differential rating released last year.

“Through this process the Coalition Government has provided councils the flexibility to offer differential rates to different groups of ratepayers within their communities,” Mr Bull said.

“Councils have all the tools available to set rates and charges at levels they feel are appropriate and fair.”