AN independent inquiry into farm rates will be undertaken if the Coalition is elected at November’s state election.
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The Coalition has made the pledge to prioritise the inquiry in an attempt to make rates more fair for farmers.
It comes after councils across the Wimmera had their farm rates debated earlier this year.
In Horsham Rural City Council’s 2018-19 Budget, rates rose on average to the capped increase of 2.25 per cent. But a breakdown shows residential rates decreased by 0.6 per cent, while farm rates increased by 11.8 per cent.
Yarriambiack Shire Council kept farm rates increases to 2.25 per cent, while Ararat Rural City Council’s rates rose by 13.4 per cent.
Northern Grampians Shire Council farmers were facing 25 per cent increases until the council responded to criticism and dropped the increase back to 2.25 per cent.
Member for Lowan Emma Kealy said farmers had been unfairly burdened in the past.
“Farmers are calling for answers and action, and we are listening,” she said.
“With farm rates increasing for some farmers by 43 per cent, they are rightly asking why their rates are skyrocketing when other councils have been able to keep increases modest.
“A high farm rates burden is putting more pressure on farmers in a year when they’re already under pressure due to drought.
“Our farmers and agriculture businesses and industry are the backbone of our local economy, that’s why we’ll prioritise an independent inquiry into farm rates in Victoria if we’re elected to government in November.”
The Victorian Farmers Federation has welcomed the proposed inquiry, which was one of its election advocacy priorities.
However president David Jochinke said all parties needed to prioritise farmers’ needs.
“There are plenty of blank spaces and much room for improvement by all major parties on the VFF’s scorecard so far,” he said.
“The VFF feels that responses from parties and candidates to calls that they Deliver for Agriculture have been underwhelming to date, and farmers are calling on them to lift their game on key election asks.
“We want to see a long term vision for agriculture, investment in fit-for-purpose roads, reliable energy and telecommunications infrastructure and action on rural crime and council rates.
“The VFF calls on the other parties to match the Coalition’s commitment on rates at a bare minimum. The VFF maintains our rating system is completely broken and needs to be demolished, then rebuilt to ensure a fairer deal for farmers. Farmers are continuing to say ‘enough is enough’.”
If the inquiry becomes a reality, the terms of reference will include consultation with farmers and the VFF. A rate cap limit of 2.25 per cent will be applied to all rating categories while the review is undertaken.