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Agriculture | December 20, 2018

Labor’s Fair Go Rates anything but fair for farmers

The Nationals Member for Lowan Emma Kealy MP is strongly disputing Labor’s claim that its Fair Go Rates scheme has ended uncontrolled council rate rises, particularly for farmers.

“Some farm rates have increased by 43 per cent over the last few years so it is hard to understand Labor’s claim that rate increases have been in line with the Consumer Price Index – 2.5 per cent in 2016/17, 2 per cent in 2017/18 and 2.25 per cent in 2018/19,” Ms Kealy said.

“Labor just don’t seem to understand the pressure farmers are under with rates and it will only get tougher for them while Daniel Andrews refuses to ensure his rates cap is applied in a fair and equitable way.

“In the lead up to the election the Liberal Nationals committed to establishing an independent review into farm rates in Victoria in the first 100 days of government and getting rate rises under control by applying a 2.25 per cent rate cap limit to all rating categories, including farm rates, while the review’s undertaken.

"While Labor matched the commitment to hold a review, farmers still don’t know when it will begin.

"I am calling on the Andrews Labor Government to act immediately to review farm rates and to apply the rate cap by category, so our farmers can have some certainty and relief from the skyrocketing rate rises they have faced in recent years,” she said.