Tasmanians for Reform has called on the LGAT Annual Conference to resolve to return the hundreds
of thousands of dollars taken from ratepayers without their consent to fund the ‘Yes’ referendum.

Spokesman Robert Mallett said while local government was welcome to push for the ‘Yes’ case at
the upcoming Federal election, it seemed a bit rich that ratepayers should be forced to foot the bill
to then be told how they should vote.

“If local government wants to argue voting yes to financial recognition by the federal government
then that is their right,” Mr Mallett said.

“However what many struggling ratepayers would be appalled to know is that it is their $400,000
that will fund a lavish campaign to support their position.

“Even worse, ratepayers were not given a choice on funding the campaign, instead it was just
agreed by Councils that this would occur.”

Mr Mallett said given local government was coming together at its Annual Conference, this was an
ideal opportunity for the sector to show the community that they understand the pain ratepayers
are going through and return the funds.

“Only last week we saw farmers on the East Coast face up to 40 per cent rate increases to fund
largess such as this,” Mr Mallett said.

“What the community wants from local government is efficient services, better infrastructure and
cheaper rates, not a glossy campaign designed to convince them how they should vote at the
referendum.”

Mr Mallett said it was time to realise that ratepayers do not have a bottomless pit of money and
acts like this only highlight the wasteful nature of the sector.

“Tasmanians for Reform commissioned a report that shows some 35 per cent efficiency could be
gained through Local Government mergers, which translates to a saving of some $200 million each
year but this was ridiculed by Local Government,” Mr Mallett said.

“Local Government then commissioned their own report in the South, which showed a saving of 15
per cent in service delivery alone, but this report has been conveniently shelved.”

Mr Mallett said Tasmanians deserved better services, improved infrastructure and cheaper rates,
not lavish advertising campaigns.
Tasmanians for Reform Spokesman Robert Mallett