1. Rural Councils Victoria Advocacy approach update
Presented by David Hawkins

2. Purpose of today Present the advocacy strategy Confirm outcomes
Establish the next steps

3. Initial request
The eight issues that were highlighted as impacting on, or having the potential to impact on, rural councils across Victoria:
The State Government's Fair Go Rates System; X
The freeze on indexation of Commonwealth Financial Assistance Grants
The continuing uncertainty of funding for local roads and infrastructure
The as-of-right component of the Commonwealth Government's allocation formula applied to Financial Assistance Grants
The regional strategy for the future growth and development of large towns and rural cities
The need for a minimum set of services provided to all Victorians
The reinvestment of the Environment Protection Authority’s levies back into the communities from which they are collected; and
The hypothecation of the Federal Fuel Levy to roads expenditure

4. Goal
Secure greater government financial support to ensure the sustainable delivery and maintenance of services and infrastructure in rural communities.

5. Outcomes This goal will be achieved through the following outcomes:
Adequately fund a minimum level of service
Create a standard financial reporting model that will be used consistently by Federal and State Governments and all statutory authorities
Funding from State and Federal Governments to support the maintenance costs of rural roads and infrastructure including the hypothecation of the Federal Fuel Exercise Levy to roads expenditure.
Funding for the establishment of a common reporting and IT platform that reduces administrative costs.
Funding on a dollar for dollar basis for councils that dispose of surplus assets (reducing infrastructure renewal costs) and for community infrastructure upgrades and renewal.
Funding for administration costs of compliance, imposed by the State Government.
Funding for any council that has made a determination in accordance with the Victorian Planning Provisions and has been taken to VCAT to defend the decision on behalf of the State.

6. First steps
Draft a budget submission that asks for the creation of a Rural Community Support Fund (with an initial contribution of $150 million) to fund:
rural roads and infrastructure.
a common reporting and IT platform
community infrastructure upgrades and renewal.
administration costs of compliance
Defending planning decisions at VCAT

7. Ongoing reporting

8. What does this mean for you?
More work providing information and data
Surplus assets
Community infrastructure priorities
Compliance costs
Annual cost of administering state programs (cost shifting)
Participating in the research required to produce a business case
Meetings with your local MPs to present the case
Generating local media coverage