Australia experienced an increasingly gigantic bubble in land prices during the 1880s and the beginning of the 1890s, and the city of Melbourne became bubble-central. Michael Cannon provides an excellent account of the period in The Land Boomers. Henry George’s…
The Andrews government is capping local governments rate rises to CPI after fifteen years of six per cent rises in a low inflation environment. Minister for Local Government Natalie Hutchins’ Fair Go Rates System, administered by the Essential Services Commission,…
Debate over the new Melbourne Metro Tunnel and the funding needed is expected to heat up now that PM Abbott has said the $1.5 for the E-W Link is ‘locked in a box’. An interesting article in The Age…
Last night I attended the Melbourne City Council’s Future Melbourne Meeting to speak on the dangers the Andrews Government rating cap has placed on council revenue raising. Cr Stephen Mayne had an interesting motion that caught my eye via twitter:…
Queensland’s weekend election saw the largest turnaround in Australian political history. A landslide against the ALP at the last election, now one back their way this time spells an electorate concerned with the economic vision for their future. With much…
“Victorian Labor’s capping of local council rates plays straight into the hands of Tony Abbott’s pro-GST revenue centralisation agenda” stated Prosper Australia Project Director Karl Fitzgerald. “The integrity of Victoria’s local council rating independence was dealt another blow by the…
The new Andrews Government provides a fresh opportunity for reviewing the role of state revenues. The current property bubble has provided a windfall in Stamp Duty revenues allowing for considered reform. The hot topics the State government must address to…
With ALP leader Daniel Andrews’ announcement today of plans to extend the rail line to Mernda, the question arises of how to finance it. “The $600m cost will probably be sourced from general revenue. But we ask, why don’t the…
A budget for the people by the people may well see some of the following policy reforms announced at tomorrow night’s State budget: Reiterate Local Council financial independence The Labor Parties naivete in announcing a proposed cap on local council…
17 October 2012 The survey of Victorian local government candidates conducted by Prosper Australia ahead of the 26 October election reveals few candidates understand where and how councils are funded. “We learned only a handful appreciate Site Value Rating is…