Minister Street’s admission that his forced council amalgamation agenda will not reduce rates, fees and charges for ratepayers has been made to look even more irresponsible by a new report.
An Auditor-General report released last week shows that in the 2021-22 financial year, local government collected a $43 million increase in rates, user fees and charges compared to the year prior (p43).
The report shows that over the same period, combined council expenditure increased by $26.58 million (p47).
Minister for Local Government Nic Street admitted last week on ABC Radio that he will not take action to reduce rates for Tasmanians during a cost of living crisis.
He said to Leon Compton, “The one thing you will not hear me promise… is that amalgamations will reduce rates for ratepayers because that simply is not the case. And it’s not been the experience anywhere. We’re not talking about reducing rates… for me this has never been about cost cutting for ratepayers.”
Cost of living is the number one issue for Tasmanians, and it’s one of the biggest issues Tasmanians have with their local councils.
Every level of Government should have a responsibility to take action to reduce cost-of-living pressures, yet Minister Street has admitted he is spending all his energy on forcibly amalgamating councils to achieve anything but.
After nearly a decade in power, this Liberal Government has again shown it has completely lost touch with the priorities of Tasmanians.
Luke Edmunds MLC
Shadow Minister for Local Government & Planning