Rural rates reform pledge by Coalition

EXCLUSIVE: CATEGORY-BASED rates capping will be introduced as an interim measure by the state Coalition if elected next month, with a farm rates inquiry also pledged.

Election promise: Mr Walsh said the Coalition would establish an independent inquiry into farm rates if elected in November.

CATEGORY-based rates capping will be introduced as an interim measure by the state Coalition if it is elected next month, with a farm rates inquiry also pledged.

National Party state leader Peter Walsh has revealed a Guy Government would alter Labor’s rate capping system, which has resulted in farmers in several municipalities being hit by skyrocketing municipal charges.

Mr Walsh said the Coalition would establish an independent inquiry into farm rates if elected on November 24.

He said the probe would be led by a qualified individual and the terms of reference would enable recommendations that help to make rates fair for farmers.

“Farming families are already under pressure from drought, rising energy and water prices, and a swag of new taxes from the Andrews Labor Government — we can’t afford for them to be rated out existence,” Mr Walsh said.

Opposition municipal spokesman David Morris said the Andrews Government’s rates capping policy had disadvantaged farmers in multiple shires statewide.

“Farmers have been calling for rates relief and we’re listening,” he said.

“With farm rates increasing nearly 30 per cent in some shires, farmers are rightly asking why their rates are skyrocketing when other councils have been able to keep increases modest.”

Frustration over the inequity of the State Government’s rates cap has been growing in recent months with farm rates increasing in Mount Alexander Shire by 29.8 per cent, Central Goldfields by 18.95 per cent, Greater Shepparton by 13.54 per cent, Ararat Rural City by 13.4 per cent, among others.

Wimmera farmer Mark Plowright, whose Dahlen farm is located in the Horsham Rural City Council, said his rates bill spike brought extra financial pressure alongside poor rainfall.

“It’s hard to plan for the future when we don’t know what we’ll get when we open up the rates notice,” he said.

“I think putting a stop to farm rates rising unchecked will give us some certainty.”

Victorian Farmers Federation president David Jochinke called for a bipartisan approach to easing the farm rates burden.

“This is fantastic news for farmers right across the state and now we need Labor to match it,” he said.

“Not a week goes by we don’t get calls from farmers across Victoria frustrated by the current rates system.”