Local Government
For too long Labor has cut local government funding and cut them out of decision making, while allowing dodgy donations, and everyday people pay the price.
Without proper funding, local government struggles to pay for things we all need, like parks, pools, bin collections, and libraries. Without proper funding, we can’t always get our kids immunised easily, get the street trees we need to cool our suburbs, our communities can miss out on the youth and art programs which make them vibrant, and there’s a risk the health inspector won’t make it to that suspect bain marie.
The Greens want local governments which are funded properly, get a say, and represent their communities, not business interests.
Explore our plan for Local Government
- Fund local government properly
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Over time, the Labor state government has reduced funding for things like libraries and maternal child health programs - leaving communities to foot more of the bill, and leaving locals with fewer and fewer of the services that we need.
The Greens want the state government to pay their fair share for programs and services that communities rely on.
At the same time, a one size fits all approach to rates isn’t working, and is also leading to community services and jobs being cut.
The Greens will abolish rate capping so councils can work together with their communities to set rates according to local needs.
- Stop dodgy donations to council candidates
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Developers donate to local council candidates in return for decisions that make them huge profits - and screw over local communities.
Time and again this has been shown to be a huge corruption risk, but the state Labor government has done nothing about it.
The Greens will, by banning donations to political parties and candidates from property developers, and introducing donations caps into local government elections.
- Give councils a seat at the table
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Councils play a key role in bringing their communities’ voices into state government decisions.
But Labor has been cutting out councils from decisions – in everything from housing and planning, to waste management, to transport.
The Greens will make sure that councils get a real say in key decisions that affect their communities.
- Support councils to respond to climate change
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Councils are often best placed to work with communities to prepare for and respond to climate disasters.
The Greens believe councils should have the rapid, flexible and long-term funding they need to invest in the infrastructure and support to protect communities from the impacts of climate change, as well as recover after disasters occur.
- Fix the rigged voting rules in the City of Melbourne
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The City of Melbourne voting system is broken. It allows businesses to get two votes, while residents only get one (even when these businesses aren’t even located in the city!).
For too long the system has been rigged to advantage big businesses and property investors over the residents who live there. The Labor and Liberal parties want to keep it this way, to keep their big business donors happy.
It’s only the Greens who will bring back democracy to the City of Melbourne.
We will make sure that residents – not businesses or investors – get to vote for their councillors. We will end automatic enrolment of businesses and non-residents, mandate timely declarations of donations and introduce restrictions on donations (including banning property developer donations). We will get rid of the rule that gives businesses more votes than residents, and expand methods of voting that maximise participation and accessibility.