MEMBER for Mildura Ali Cupper says she had a productive first meeting with Federal Local Government Minister Kristy McBain this week over rates equity.
“As a former regional councillor and mayor, minister McBain immediately understood the sense of grievance rural and regional ratepayers have towards the current rating system,” Ms Cupper said.
“She was prepared to consider the four key elements of my RateGate proposal, including a special formula for farmers, which provides greater flexibility without shifting the cost to residents and businesses,” she said.
Ms Cupper will reconvene with Ms McBain later this year, after the federal, state and territory local government ministers meet.
“Solutions to address cost-of-living pressures and the financial sustainability of rural-regional councils will be a key agenda item,” Ms Cupper said.
“We’ve already had a commitment from the former Victorian local government minister Shaun Leane to give more funding to rural and regional councils if the feds would change the rules to allow it to happen.
“Now we need the feds to come on board.
“Minister McBain signed off our conversation by saying, ‘You have an ally in this office’, which is a great reassurance after her Coalition predecessor declined to meet with me at all.”
