17 October 2012 The survey of Victorian local government candidates conducted by Prosper Australia ahead of the 26 October election reveals few candidates understand where and how councils are funded. “We learned only a handful appreciate Site Value Rating is…
photo credit: mugley The Baillieu government has just received a major report into Victoria’s economic efficiency that offers a clear path to redesign state taxes, advance living standards and make Victoria an absolute magnet for employment and investment. “Ted Baillieu…
At the moment, Victoria’s Metropolitan Fire Brigade and Country Fire Authority are funded by the Fire Services Levy, a charge added to fire insurance. But the FSL gives a free ride to uninsured property owners – they don’t pay for…
photo credit: Schaffner Sometimes the ignorance of experts makes my blood boil. Why can’t they do the arithmetic, the sums plainly before them? The Victorian Transport Plan will cost $38 billion and produce benefits of $180 billion, according to a…
photo credit: Cayusa Tax reform is hard for government: losers complain loud and long, while those who will benefit are suspicious and silent. We should be angry as hell about the tax system. It scoops up the earnings of the…
Consider these three points: Property developers have openly stated they are reducing the supply of property to the market in order to massage land banking profits: While some already owe more than their home is worth, the result of prices…
The Brumby-Madden announcement to increase Melbourne by the equivalent size of Canberra is exasperating. 100,000 vacant sites already exist in Melbourne in areas already serviced by infrastructure (according to the recent census). The government has failed us economically. The have…
The Brumby government’s haphazard manner in dealing with Melbourne’s ‘urban sprawl forever’ attitude is straining government revenues. The desperate actions following from this with the $95,000 Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution (GAIC) are the result of the ignorance of more efficient…
Land speculators with portfolios in Coolaroo, Cranbourne East, Caroline Springs, Nunawading, and Parkville will be celebrating with their second free lunch in as many weeks. Brumby’s announcement of new train stations in these suburbs has delivered windfall gains to those…
photo credit: Dean Terry If ever we needed any more motivation to burn the midnight oil, the Brumby government’s latest handout to the property lobby is just this. Just nine months since he handed out free lunch with the 90,000…