Rate Cap Legislation Now Law

As part of the Minister for Local Government’s Local Government Reform Agenda, one of the main planks of the package, rate capping, has just become law. The Local Government Act Amendment Bill was passed in the Legislative Council and will stop councils raising their rates above a cap, based on the Melbourne Consumer Price Index […]

Water reforms – desal to be turned on

Based on an article published today in the Age by Marc Moncrief and Josh Gordon, it appears likely that Melbourne will access water from the desalination plant in Wonthaggi for the first time.  The persistent drought conditions have led the state government to consider water reforms such as: allocation of 75 gigalitres in Lake Eildon belonging to Melbourne’s […]

Outcomes from the ESC Water Pricing Conference

Over the past two days, the Essential Services Commission (ESC) has hosted a water pricing conference to invigorate discussion around the different models that could be used for pricing water. “Is a regulator in the best position to establish the desired return on assets, or should that be informed by the stakeholders?  I enclose my […]

“BPR Conversations” first newsletter

“BPR Conversations” first newsletter (479KB)