Barnett Still Lying About Local Government

Colin Barnett is unhappy about local government rate rises (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-16/council-rates-hikes-not-acceptable-wa-premier-says/6626022) but fails to acknowledge the extent to which increases are a direct result of forcing metropolitan councils to spend ratepayers money on his failed so-called reform process.

CPI is not a relevant measure of cost pressures on local government - not much of your council budget goes on food or housing. Local government cost index has been increasing faster than consumer prices, especially during the resources boom.

Barnett says if ratepayers thought their rates were too high they should look at their council's size and viability. He said that might prompt some to rethink their position on whether council amalgamations are needed. "You can go into parts of Perth and rates will be $2,500, you can go into other parts of Perth and they'll be $1,100," he said.

Well, Col, the highest-charging metropolitan councils are outer ones with large areas to service, low densities and development pressures to support. It is not unexpected that their costs (and hence their charges) are higher. Size is not the issue - the low-charging large councils are ones that are largely-developed.

And it seems he just can't help himself about wanting amalgamations. Don't tell us what to think about local government, though, Col. Local government should be just that - local. If communities want to amalgamate, that's fine - but the initiative should come from them (let's change the Local Government Act so that the Minister can't make formal amalgamation proposals) and they should have the opportunity to call a poll on any proposals or recommendations.