gouging

Population growth costs you and me: "In the last 10 years rates have risen by over 100% which is more than almost every other consumer commodity. This includes hospital and medical services, health services, education, food, alcohol, tobacco, petrol, gas and electricity, restaurants meals, take away fast food, domestic and international holidays, clothing and footwear, household appliances, and motor vehicles." (Alan Nelsen, Coordinator McCrae Action Group and Secretary Mornington Peninsula Ratepayers' & Residents' Assoc Inc.)

The appalling increase in the Mornington Peninsula Shire's Rates over 10 years is about average for all councils.

There appears to be no price watch or system of discipline by government to keep councils honest so it seems councils increase rates by an amount which they think they can "get away with" rather than focusing on efficiency and keeping rates down.

Comments and suggestions about how we might get some action on a parliamentary review of council rate increases would be appreciated.

Victorian rates climbed 100% last decade

Victorian councils have lost touch with reality. In the last 10 years rates have risen by over 100% which is more than almost every other consumer commodity. This includes hospital and medical services, health services, education, food, alcohol, tobacco, petrol, gas and electricity, restaurants meals, take away fast food, domestic and international holidays, clothing and footwear, household appliances, and motor vehicles.

When banks, petrol companies and supermarkets raise their prices there are howls of protest from the public and politicians, government inquiries and price watches. However over the last decade councils have left the price increases of these providers in their wake, and yet not a murmur.

Victoria worst state for rates

Victorian rates have increased by 30% more than any other state, three times the increase in CPI, and by more than double the increases in wages. Rates just simply cannot continue to rise as they have previously.

In NSW rates are pegged

An urgent parliamentary inquiry needs to be held into the reasons for the outrageous rate increases and how they can be restrained in the future. Perhaps the government should follow the New South Wales government's example which pegs rates. The rise over the past five years is 50% less than in Victoria.

This article was created from edited material by Dr Alan Nelsen, Coordinator McCrae Action Group and Secretary Mornington Peninsula Ratepayers' & Residents' Assoc Inc. Contact him at alanne[AT]ihug.com.au