CITY of Ballarat councillors have unanimously voted to formally oppose the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund and the requirement by the State Government to collect it.<\/p>\n
The notice of motion was voted on at last week’s regular council meeting, and it also condemned the financial burden the levy will place on ratepayers.<\/p>\n
Councillors committed to provide clear information about the levy and the collection mandate in rates notices, to advocate for the responsibility of collection to be shifted to the State Government, and to write to State ministers and local members of parliament to communicate the condemnation.<\/p>\n
Cr Ted Lapkin said the new levy unfairly targets rural and regional areas.<\/p>\n
“Why would the government impose such a destructive edict on such a productive element of our society?” he said.<\/p>\n
“The reason I think is primarily financial. To this Labor government, country Victoria is expendable and exploitable.<\/p>\n
“It sees rural regions as a source of low hanging revenue fruit.”<\/p>\n
It is mandated by law that Local Government Areas collect the levy and mayor Cr Tracey Hargreaves said the City of Ballarat is taking all possible steps to advocate against it.<\/p>\n
“People may have been looking to council to provide some sort of resolution that we wouldn’t collect this levy,” she said.<\/p>\n
“The cold truth is that we don’t have that ability. We are required to follow the law.<\/p>\n
“We are very united on this as a council. Council is doing everything we absolutely can to advocate for [ratepayers] on this matter.”<\/p>\n
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