The Andrews government is capping local governments rate rises to CPI after fifteen years of six per cent rises in a low inflation environment. Minister for Local Government Natalie Hutchins’ Fair Go Rates System, administered by the Essential Services Commission,...
BLOG: infrastructure
12km of cost-shifting – onto working stiffs like you
The Property Council of Australia was out again yesterday, sternly defending the land from pesky taxes and ‘value capture’. Well, their land. The ACT branch said its members "applaud the ACT government's vision" for the 12-kilometre tram linking the city and...
The valuation conundrum – not.
By Bryan Kavanagh and David Collyer This week’s game-changer, the Property Taxes paper by Grattan Institute has a minor error on land valuation that needs correcting before it becomes a gift to the opponents of reform. Grattan is acutely aware that on this topic...
Value Capture trumps Tolls
Yesterday's press release was quoted in The Age article Pay Up: Grand Plan to get big projects built. After quoting the soft option of tolling drivers, which has failed spectacularly as a financing mechanism in NSW and QLD, the article moves on to quote the RACV's...
Funding Melbourne’s new underground rail link
Media Release “The Andrews government has lost no time putting its stamp on the future shape of Melbourne, funding the planning stage of the Melbourne Metro Rail tunnel – while fretting about the $9 billion cost. “Victoria can fund this vital connection, lifting train...
Value Capture at Melb Transport Super Forum
Last night's Melbourne Transport Super Forum featuring Minister Terry Mulden, the ALP's Jill Hennessy and the Green's Greg Barber was as packed as a Melbourne train with policy wonks and advocates. The presentations were dominated by the usual point scoring. But there...
Infrastructure Funding Diversity
Cross posted from The Conversation By Chris Hale Public transport has a problem with money. Campaigners often argue that mass transit is a public good in its own right, and hence should be very cheap or even free. Mainstream media and even many self-proclaimed...
ACT landowners are revolting
The Property Council of Australia is ‘vehemently opposed’ to Canberra’s special land levy to part-fund the $600 million light rail project from Gungahlin to the city, calling it “just another property tax in disguise”.
Our Interrelated Property Cycles – easy ‘windfall’ gains – but, what’s the Consequence?
There’s only one reason we have devastating house price booms and busts – the pre marker to any recession and economic disaster, and that is speculation induced in this case, through the privatisation of unearned gains.
Superannuation the next sacrificial lamb in failed infrastructure model
The continual reinforcement that new infrastructure can only financed by privatising the last remaining public assets is worth challenging. According to Infrastructure Australia and Joe Hockey, a fire sale here or there is all that is required for a mere $220 billion....