GOVERNMENT MUST PAY RATES ON CROWN LAND

East Gippsland Shire's proposed seven percent rate increase adds further weight to The Nationals' plan to rate crown land, according to Nationals candidate for Gippsland East, Chris Nixon.

Mr Nixon said local ratepayers were carrying an unfair burden because vast areas of East Gippsland Shire are currently unrateable.

"Under the current system, Council cannot charge a municipal rate for crown land," Mr Nixon said.

"In a Shire where more than 70 percent of the land mass is in some form of public ownership, it makes it extremely difficult for the Shire to make ends meet without continually increasing their rates.

"I believe that the State Government should be liable for making extra payments to councils like East Gippsland, which have such vast areas of crown land.

"It would certainly reduce the impact on local families and allow Council to carry out much needed improvements to local road and bridge networks."

The Nationals' Member for Gippsland Province, Peter Hall, has agreed with Mr Nixon and undertaken to raise the issue in State Parliament.

"The Nationals are very aware of the difficult financial situation facing rural and regional councils throughout the State," Mr Hall said.

"Continual cost-shifting and a drip feed approach to providing grants make it difficult for country councils to prepare their budgets without increasing the rate burden on local residents.

"As part of The Nationals' plan for Local Government, we would require the State to make an equitable contribution for areas of crown land.

"The Nationals have also proposed a model where a percentage of GST revenue is provided directly to councils to improve services and infrastructure without the need to increase rates."

Media contact: Peter Hall's office (03) 5174 7066