This month we feature two councillors from Victoria.
Councillor Judy Heather,
Moira Shire Council, Victoria
Q. Why did you decide to become involved in Local Government?
What was I thinking – a divorced mother of five, full time carer for my elderly blind mother, partner in a restaurant with my eldest daughter and an active community member. As a fifth generation member of the first farming settlers at St. James, I am inherently committed to my community work and my family.
I thought I could do it, and it would be a natural progression to represent the entire shire in this way.
Q. Tell us about your Local Government area.
Originally made up of five shires, Moira now covers a very large and diverse area. Diverse in farming both wet and dry, the Shire has various tourism locations and a fantastic eco tourism potential. Moira is in a unique situation to grow from this diversity, if we as Councillors commit to allowing communities to play a part in shaping the direction of their Shire’s future.
Q. How long have you been on Council? How has it affected you?
When I was elected as a Local Government Councillor in 2008, I had no idea the impact it would have on my life, both positively and negatively.
Positively, I’ve grown in confidence, self esteem and learnt that I can debate issues and get results, and be an equal contributor alongside my fellow Councillors.
I have gained much from serving my community in this way. I don’t see myself as a social butterfly, but more grassroots.
Negatively, I fast realised the legislative restraints on Councillors and the overwhelming rigours of Local Government Inspectorate investigations. These are clandestine investigations that see a Councillor being investigated as guilty until proven innocent.
This means being left in the dark without being informed of why you are being investigated or any progress reports.
These investigations can disrupt and intrude on a normal law abiding citizen’s life whose only intention was to represent her community. After nearly 12 months the end result, was that I was cleared.
The community as a whole does not understand the serious consequences of this legislation and the tight boundaries that it sets, that at times sees Councillors unable to fully contribute to their role. Legislation must be adjusted to perform the role it was set up for, but not to restrict our duties. There is a balance to be had.
Q. What are the key challenges facing you and your Council?
Our key challenges for Moira into the future are seeking new and innovative ways to grow tourism; supporting and respecting the importance of our agricultural sector; attracting new industries; and increasing the focus on our aging population.
Last, but not least, securing the trust and support of our ratepayers and residents.
Councillor Ben Buckley,
East Gippsland Shire Council, Victoria
Q. How long have you been on Council?
I have been involved for about 20 years, starting from the early 1980s with the Omeo Shire pre amalgamation. I joined the East Gippsland Shire Council in 2003.
Q. Why did you become involved in Local Government?
I have always had an interest in public affairs, particularly in area of reform, and Local Government seemed the best way to achieve some objectives from a grassroots level.
Q. Tell us about your Local Government area?
In area, we are the second largest Shire in the State of Victoria, covering 21,800 square kilometres (about the size of Israel) with only 45,000 people and with only a bit over 20 per cent of the area rateable properties.
The combination of these factors makes it difficult to provide services without any extra State or Federal Government assistance.
Q. What makes your Council area special or different?
We stretch from the mountains to the sea with enormous areas of native forest ‘trees’ and coastal plains.
With our Riviera climate you can be sailing on the balmy Gippsland Lakes in the morning, and snow skiing at Mt Hotham in the afternoon.
Also, about 20 per cent of our Shire is part of the Murray Darling Basin, which gives us an interest in that complex catchment.
Q. What are the key challenges facing you and your Council?
Getting enough money to meet the expectations of the people, particularly in relation to services (considering our ever expanding staff); attempting to meet the requirements of a relentless State Government (for instance with waste disposal); occupational health and safety; country roads; and sea level rises – real or imaginary!
Q. What things should Local Government be focusing on for the next decade?
Keeping our overheads down in relation to expenditure and consultants, spending more on road safety improvement, getting rid of black spots as well as getting more of our people out of the office and into the field.
There is a real need for Local Government to have Constitutional recognition so that we can claim our fair share of GST revenues from the Australian Government, instead of this wretched cost shifting system we endure through the State Government.
What we need to do is reform the Rate Tax System (RTS). We need to abandon the obsolete Colonial RTS, which is a tax on a guess and a disincentive tax because the more you improve your property the more tax you pay, and replace this with direct payments from the Commonwealth out of GST revenues, that are a much fairer consumer tax.
