Local Government Rating System Review

Welcome

The Victorian Government is committed to the financial sustainability of councils and wants to ensure local government rates are fair and equitable for all of the community.

An independent panel was appointed in 2019 to review all aspects of Victoria’s local government rating system. Their final report was submitted to the Minister for Local Government on 31 March 2020.

The Victorian Government released the final report and its response to the 56 recommendations on 21 December 2020. These are published below.

The Review’s Discussion Paper, Consultation Report and the supplementary information (including review submissions and information on rates in a range of languages, at the Know Your Council website) are all available on this site. Explore the FAQs, Fact Sheets and rating data as well.

You can stay updated by clicking on the 'Follow' button under the heading at the top of the page.

Read the Final Report and the Victorian Government Response

Local Government Rating System Review Final Report

PDF (3.91 MB)

Victorian Government Response to the Local Government Rating System Report

PDF (328.25 KB)

Victorian Government Response to the Local Government Rating System Report

MS Word (87.52 KB)

Information Sheet - What it Means for Ratepayers

PDF (131.16 KB)

Information Sheet - What it Means for Ratepayers

MS Word (857.08 KB)

How rates work

Read the Discussion Paper

Discussion Paper - Local Government Rating Review

PDF (659.27 KB)

Discussion Paper - Local Government Rating Review

MS Word (2.34 MB)

Read the Review Consultation Report - What We Heard

Local Government Rating System Review Consultation Report

PDF (1.16 MB)

Local Government Rating System Review Consultation Report

MS Word (4.49 MB)

PowerPoint Presentation - Public Forums

View the presentation made by the Panel in public forums between August-October 2019

Presentation - Rating Review Public Forums

MS Powerpoint (9.80 MB)

Local Government Submissions to the Rating Review

All submissions made to the Rating Review by local councils have now been published, please see below.

Alpine Shire Submission - Rating Review

PDF (100.19 KB)

Ararat City Council Submission - Rating Review

PDF (3.64 MB)

Baw Baw Shire Council Submission - Rating Review

PDF (99.55 KB)

Organisational Submissions to the Rating Review

Submissions to the Rating Review from organisational stakeholders have been published, please see below. As late submissions are recieved, we will continue to publish these to the website.

Aboriginal Housing Victoria Submission - Rating Review

PDF (288.18 KB)

Affordable Housing Industry Advisory Group Submission - Rating Review

PDF (232.22 KB)

Australian Energy Council Submission - Rating Review

PDF (370.87 KB)

Individual Submissions to the Rating Review

Submissions provided as an attachment to the Submission Form have been published, please see below. (Responses to the Submission Form have also been published to the website). Please note that to protect the privacy of submitters, all personal information (such as names and addresses) has been removed from the submissions. You can check if your submission attachment was received by looking at the Individual Submissions document at the top of the list.

Individual Submissions made to the Rating Review

PDF (51.98 KB)

1. Public Submission - Rating Review

PDF (95.78 KB)

2. Public Submission - Rating Review

PDF (523.77 KB)

Public Online Submission Form Responses

The responses to the public submission form are published below. Please note that written documents attached to the submission form can be found under Individual Submissions or Organisational Submissions above.

Public submission form responses

MS Excel (81.63 KB)

Online Survey Results

The results of the Rating Review "Quick Survey" are published below. The survey has closed.

Rating Review Quick Survey Results

MS Excel (447.38 KB)

Rates and Charges 2013-2019

Please Note: The information in the attached dataset has been compiled from council published Annual Budgets since 2013. It is considered to be true and correct at the date of publication, however users should undertake their own verification of this data as required.

Rates and Charges Data 2013-2019

MS Excel (541.63 KB)

Collection Notice

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) is committed to protecting personal information provided by you in accordance with the principles of the Victorian privacy laws.

DELWP will use the information collected to inform you of future consultation processes relating to the Rating Review as well as progress updates on the work of the Review Panel. Your contact details may also be used by DELWP to update you on the results of the Review consultation.

We will not disclose your personal information outside of DELWP without your consent, except where required to do so by law.

If you do not wish to provide your personal information we will not be able to inform you of future consultation, or identify your submission if you wish to access it, make a correction or require technical support.

You may contact us to request access to your personal information, or regarding other concerns regarding the privacy of your personal information at rating.review@ecodev.vic.gov.au

Timeline

Timeline item 1 - complete

Rating Review Panel Announced

4 June 2019
Timeline item 2 - complete

Consultation opens

29 July 2019
Timeline item 3 - complete

Public Meetings
See the schedule of public meeting dates below.
Public meeting consultation schedule (PDF)
Public meeting consultation schedule (Word)

To register, please email rating.review@ecodev.vic.gov.au with the following information:
- Location (e.g. Geelong)
- Number of attendees
Timeline item 4 - complete

Consultation closes

1 November 2019
Timeline item 5 - complete

Public hearings - selected stakeholders

Public Panel Hearings Rating Review Schedule (Word)
Public Panel Hearings Rating Review Schedule (PDF)
13-14 November 2019
Clarendon Room G
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

The Panel will hear from selected stakeholders on their submissions to the review. The public is encouraged to attend and observe.
Timeline item 6 - complete

Consultation Report - What We Heard

Published 6th January 2020
Timeline item 7 - complete

Feedback considered and Panel report drafted

November 2019 - March 2020
Timeline item 8 - complete

Report Submitted to Minister for Local Government

31 March 2020
Timeline item 9 - complete

Report and Government Response Released

21 December 2020

About the Review

Rating Review Terms of Reference

The Review will examine the current application of rates and charges by local government in Victoria, including:

Current local government rates and charges levied under the Local Government Act and a number of other pieces of State legislation;
The rating system’s interaction with the State’s taxation, valuation and other systems;
Current rating exemptions and concessions;
The autonomy of local governments to apply the rating system to meet local needs;
Current exemptions and discounts for local government rates and their application to various classes of land, including farm land, charitable status land and mining land;
The impacts any recommended changes would have on councils, businesses and various classes of ratepayers.

Out of scope

The Fair Go Rate Cap, Commonwealth and State grants and other sources of local government funding will not be considered by the rating review.

Read the full Terms of Reference below.

Rating Review Terms of Reference (PDF)

Rating Review Terms of Reference (MS Word)

Panel Members

Dr Kathy Alexander (Panel Chair), a former South Australian Telstra Businesswoman of the Year and former CEO of City of Melbourne, is an experienced board member and chair in public, not for profit and private for profit organisations. Her previous and current board roles include Chair of Administrators of the City of Greater Geelong, Chair of the Naomi Milgrom Foundations and Chair of Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network. She has held many chair roles in her previous roles as CEO of Royal Children’s and Royal Women’s hospitals in Victoria and other health services in South Australia.

Mr John Tanner AM, a former regional business owner and operator with 30 years’ experience, has a strong understanding of the rating system and challenges facing rural and regional cities. John also has extensive experience working with metropolitan and regional councils as Commissioner of the Shire of Delatite, Administrator for Brimbank City Council and Commissioner of the Inquiry into Ararat City Council. He has been a Director and a Chairperson on many boards including the Lord Mayors Children’s Camp, the Benalla Flood Plan Committee, the Rotary Club of Benalla, Brimbank City Fund and the LeadWest Board and was a founding Chairperson of Action Benalla. He received an order of Australia in 2016 for recognition of his contribution to the community.

Dr Ron Ben-David, Chairperson of the Essential Services Commission until May 2019, was responsible for regulating the electricity gas, water, taxi, freight and local government sectors. He was also the former Deputy Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet from 2004-2008 and has a long history working in various government policy positions.

FAQs

Fact sheets and other useful documents

Fact Sheet 1 - What's on my rate bill?

PDF (204.79 KB)

Fact Sheet 2 - Myths and Facts about Rating

PDF (1.11 MB)

Fact Sheet 2 - Myths and Facts about Rating

MS Word (206.51 KB)

Contact Us

Want to learn more about the Rating Review? Contact us below:

Contact Name

Review Secretariat

Phone

+61 03 9948 8533

rating.review@ecodev.vic.gov.au