Rural Councils Victoria says it hopes a state parliamentary inquiry into local government will result in sensible reforms and not descend into political point-scoring.
The Liberals and Nationals have secured a Legislative Council parliamentary inquiry into local government funding and service delivery, which Nationals leader and shadow Local Government Minister Peter Walsh said would produce a report providing “constructive advice to the government on building a more sustainable future for Victoria’s councils”.
RCV represents 34 rural councils across the state, accounting for 79 per cent of Victoria’s land area and a combined 822,000 people.
Its chair, Cr Mary-Ann Brown, has welcomed the inquiry, saying it comes at a time when the state’s small rural communities need financial and other support.
“We hope the upper house inquiry will provide a genuine opportunity to float ideas for some sensible reforms and doesn’t descend into political point-scoring,” she said.
“Rural communities need and deserve the same services as every other community. RCV asks state and federal governments to provide rural communities with their fair share.
“We understand that the state government is facing severe budget pressures. However, small rural councils have no means of raising other income, such as through parking fees, and are under even more extreme budgetary constraints.”
Cr Brown’s hopes for political point-scoring to be left aside may be wishful thinking however, with Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland releasing a statement saying the inquiry is necessary in the face of the Andrews Government’s “nothing to see” approach to issues within the sector.
“They don’t want Victorians to know how badly they manage local government,” she said.
“The local councillors I meet are well-intentioned members of their communities trying to do good, and Labor’s ‘nothing to see here’ approach is undermining their efforts.”
Member for Shepparton Kim O’Keeffe agreed the Labor Government had a case to answer.
“Victorians are fed up with the Andrews Government shifting costs on to local councils and forcing ratepayers to pick up the tab as a result,” she said.
“As a former councillor and mayor, I understand first-hand from my experience the challenges faced by local government and councils. More needs to be done so councils can provide the adequate level of service to their residents.”
Mr Walsh said the inquiry would be a wide-ranging review.
“It’s about more than just looking at council rates, we have to go back to square one and examine the entire funding model for local government,” he said.
The Economy and Infrastructure Committee of the Legislative Council will complete the inquiry and deliver recommendations to the government by June 30, 2024.