By BRIDGET COOK
“THE days of ratepayers footing the bill for Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonators are over.”
That was the call from State Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews last week as he announced Labor’s proposed policy to force local councils to tighten their belts.
Mr Andrews was referencing the City of Casey’s informational video for the Casey Cultural Precinct, where they hired celebrity impersonator Ben Price (dressed as Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator character) to interview mayor Geoff Ablett and Amanda Stapledon about the $125 million project in December.
Footage and photos from the council’s video have also been used in the Opposition’s promotion of the new policy.
The council has now hit back at the Opposition for using the project for “cheap political point-scoring”, just days after another Opposition MP met with the council to hear all about the precinct.
On Monday, Mr Andrews announced that Victorian Labor would force councils to cap their rates at the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and justify any further increases.
Under Labor, councils wishing to raise their rates above CPI would need to appeal to the independent Essential Services Commission (ESC) and justify any rate increases.
If the ESC believed the rate rise was unreasonable, it would recommend to the Minister for Local Government that the increase be blocked.
Mr Andrews said councils would be forced to limit rate rises and detail where every dollar would be spent, because ratepayers deserved a fair go.
“The days of ratepayers footing the bill for Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonators are over,” he said.
“This policy also sends a clear message that we expect councils to keep their rates in line with CPI – any increases above this must provide a clear benefit to ratepayers.”
Casey has hit back, saying it was surprised and disappointed Mr Andrews used the precinct for cheap political point-scoring only days after a productive meeting between the council, arts community representatives and the Shadow Minister for the Arts Martin Foley.
City of Casey spokesperson Councillor Wayne Smith, who attended the meeting with Mr Foley, said Casey residents deserved better from the State Opposition.
“Rather than wasting time using the Casey Cultural Precinct for cheap political gain, we invite the Opposition Leader to work with council and partner with us to address the lack of arts and cultural facilities in Melbourne’s south east,” he said.
Cr Smith said on behalf of the residents of Melbourne’s south east, the council was seeking a funding commitment of $10 million from the State Government and Opposition in the lead-up to the November 2014 state election.
