In a statement to Parliament today, Environment Minister Donna Faragher said the 300% increase to the levies will take effect from 1 January next year to enable necessarily legislative changes to be made prior.

WA Local Government Association President, Cr Bill Mitchell said the delay would now provide the sector and industry the opportunity to work through the issues regarding the new tax.

“It is simply a victory for common sense. It now provides the opportunity for the sector and industry to work through the issues with State Government,” Cr Mitchell said.

“There are legislative changes required for the State Government to allocate the $39 million to be collected by the increases to purposes other than reducing waste into landfill.

“There are still questions from the legal advice that has been received by WALGA as to the legitimacy of the proposed legislative changes that need to be clarified.”

Cr Mitchell said the WA Local Government sector remained in opposition to the new tax for ratepayers in the metropolitan area, which for some would be up to an additional $48 per year.

He expected though, that most Local Governments would still start collecting the new tax with the next rates notices as they were already well advanced in issued notices to households.

“This will mean that some Councils will be over collecting this year and will have to average out the surplus in the following year’s rate notice,” he said.

“It is not an ideal situation but probably the most responsible action given that Councils already have a mechanism in place to collect the tax and the late timing of today’s announcement.”  

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