THE WARD SYSTEM
Recently there has been local media coverage about the implementation of Wards within the Greater Shepparton City Council.
Currently many local governments within Victoria (and other states) either currently have or will have Ward Boundaries implemented.
The Allan Labor Government is amending the electoral structures of 39 Victorian Councils ahead of the 2024 local government general elections in October this year.
Minister for Local Government Melissa Horne announced the upcoming changes having accepted the recommendation of the Electoral Representation Advisory Panels (ERAP’S) – noting these new electoral representation arrangements will ensure councils are more reflective of the communities they represent.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Local Government Melissa Horne: include:
“The Electoral Representation Advisory Panels have delivered thorough work over an extensive period to ensure that Victorian councils will be set up to effectively represent their communities.”
“These new ward boundaries will be in place for the local government elections this year – an important step in our work to reform local government and meet the expectations of communities right across Victoria.”
The key words I believe are “these new electoral representation arrangements will ensure councils are more reflective of the communities they represent”.
I am in total agreement with the new electoral arrangements with Ward boundaries being implemented in Shepparton. The wards system will better meet the needs of communities especially within the western rural areas of Shepparton. All too often we hear many comments and criticisms that the City of Greater Shepparton Councillors are too Shepparton centric. The Ward system will assist in eradicating those practices.
I am going to stand for this year’s Council elections, and I will be nominating for the Midland ward in the 2024 Council elections. The Midland Ward combines the Western communities such as Tatura, and Merrigum along with parts of Undera and includes all of the other smaller communities with the surrounding agricultural land together in one ward. I do believe having a Councillor (such as myself) focusing on the rapidly growing towns of Tatura and the important areas of Merrigum along with the rural aspects of the Western communities will be most beneficial for the ratepayers within the Midland Ward.
Some of the advantages of a Ward system include:
• Elected members living in a certain area may have a greater affinity, knowledge and understanding of the issues specific to that area.
• Different sectors of the community can be represented ensuring a good spread of representation and interest amongst Elected Members.
• Electors may feel that they are not adequately represented if they do not have an affinity with any of the Elected Members.
• Elected members are more easily accessible to the electors of the ward they represent.
• Electors may feel that they are not adequately represented if they do not have a Councillor within their immediate area.
• Local government is about local issues, and having wards means there are dedicated councillors to contact regarding any issues in their Ward.
• It allows Councillors to be more accessible and to lobby the area effectively and deal with issues relevant to the local ward area.
• The Ward system will assist in making residents feel listened to and better represented.
• The wards give the residents a feeling of being part of a smaller community within the larger Shepparton community.
• The Ward system will ensure that Ratepayers are aware of who their local candidate is and they will feel more comfortable that they are able to contact them with concerns or queries that they have.
• A Ward system allows residents to have a voice that they feel really represents their Wards specific issues.
• Ratepayers will obtain a familiarity with their Ward representatives which makes it straightforward to contact them on any issues relevant to them or concerns they have.
• Having a Councillor under the Ward system makes it far easier for ratepayers to establish a reporte with the elected Councillor rather than having to engage with other Councillors who are not as aware of the local issues.
• This makes it easier for a resident to identify and get to know their local councillor especially should the resident need to know who to contact when issues with council arise.
• Each ward still has its own related issues and localised knowledge by the elected representative of these issues better serves the residents of that particular area.
• Residents and ratepayers have more “ownership” of the local government processes when they have wards and specific representatives on the council.
• The elected Members of each ward will have an intimate knowledge of the local ward issues and are the first point of contact for their constituents.
In conclusion I do believe a Ward Boundaries are a positive step forward in ensuring superior representation across the City of Greater Shepparton. The ward system ensures diversity and independence on the council and, the elected Councillors are more accessible to the electors of the ward they represent. It allows for diversity of views on the council and the ward representation is a substantial improvement for dealing with ward-specific issues.
As stated previously I am going to stand for the Ward of Midland in City of Greater Shepparton elections which will be held in October 2024.
I would welcome and feedback or questions from any Ratepayers and I can be contacted at anytime on my mobile telephone number 0419 924 610
Rod Schubert,
Tatura
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LAND TAX
Dear Editor,
Recently the Victorian Government brought in a law whereby many more investors need to pay land tax. The threshold was brought down from $300,000 to $50,000
Now I am not saying that only one group needs to pay land tax, what I am saying is where is the government going to find a property that is worth less than $50,000 so as they don’t pay land tax?
This must be a joke at the very least.
The government argues that the plight of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused them to do this.
The fact of the matter is that they have spent billions of dollars in their project stuff ups or call it what you like, the difference is the same, and they are putting their hands in our pockets to pay for all of this and without shame.
So why weren’t they honest and say, come on people, everybody has to pay land tax.
This government is not for the people. This government is for themselves.
Kind regards,
Lib Tenace,
Kyabram
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ENERGY MISMANAGEMENT
Victorian households and businesses are facing the prospect of gas shortfalls as early as next winter.
The Allan Labor Government continues to undermine new conventional gas projects, despite a St Vincent de Paul Society report finding Victorians have paid 22 per cent more for gas and 28 per cent more for electricity over the past year.
Labor in Victoria have been pursuing an anti-gas policy, an ideological approach that is not being driven by practical solutions.
The risk to the state of extreme demand conditions and forecast supply shortages are the result of mismanagement by Labor over the last decade and should concern Victorian businesses and households.
It is time to step back from this ideological approach and open up natural gas supply and storage options.
An incompetent Labor government has left Victorians and the Victorian economy at serious risk.
From Annabelle Cleeland
Member for Euroa
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TIPS FOR NAVIGATING FOOD WASTE
To the Editor of the Shepparton Adviser,
Regarding your recent article on reducing food waste (‘Navigating rising costs and food wastage: Insights from a farmer’, March 27, 2024), I would encourage people to maintain clean practices within their fridge.
Avoid placing new vegetables alongside last week’s vegetables. Wipe draws and racks clean as they are emptied.
Keep a small, open container inside the fridge with a centimetre of white vinegar in it to help kill germs.
Add a crumpled section of paper towelling to this to act as a wick and increase the evaporation inside the refrigerated environment.
Regards,
Chris
Kyabram
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BROKEN HECS DEBT SYSTEM
Young Australians are almost culturally sold into the narrative that University is a catch-all, regardless of whether you know what you want to do in life or not. Unfortunately, consecutive decades of poor policy have contributed to past and existing University students owing a looming $78B.
Despite the fact that many sitting politicians would have enjoyed the reprieve from tuition fees that was offered between 1974 and 1989, they show no willingness to lower the ladder back down for current students. With few exceptions; notably many independents in the House of Representatives and Senate, pushing for changes to the existing system.
Amidst a cost-of-living crisis it is bittersweet knowledge for many to find out that, the payments deducted from each of your paycheques to cover your HECS obligation, are not immediately paid to the tax office like many of us would expect, similarly to a bank loan. Instead, these funds are held until tax time to be applied to your ‘new’ debt.
Ironically, indexation of debts actually occurs prior to tax time, which results in the amount you have paid each week being applied on your ‘new’ debt. So instead of your repayments reducing the amount which is indexed on your old debt, it is reduced from the post-indexation amount which means that your repayments stretch very thinly across your debt.
We hear everyday horror stories of workers who have more debt owed now than they did when they finished their degree, whether it’s by the power of indexation or lower-paid career options; it is clearly an issue.
While my stance is largely that student debt – at least to the extent which our current system allows – is not necessary or ethical, if we are to assume that the government will refuse to abolish the system; indexation and the timing of payments are two simpler fixes that the government could institute which would benefit nearly three million Australians.
Sounds pretty simple, but when the money is taken from your paycheque it should be applied to your existing debt, indexation should then occur on the remainder of the debt after you have paid, this while not being an ideal solution is significantly better than what we currently have.
Regardless of the specifics, it is clear that amidst a cost-of-living crisis, if policy changes are the only tool that we have, they are the most important tool we can push for.
From Rowan Farren,
Mooroopna
