Rates are one of the most direct ways Council affects household and business budgets.

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For many residents, particularly people on fixed incomes, even relatively modest increases accumulate over time. Businesses face the same pressures while also dealing with wages, energy, insurance, rent and other operating costs. Council therefore has an obligation to treat ratepayers’ money carefully.

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My position on rates starts with financial discipline. Before asking the community for more money, Council should continually examine how existing resources are being used, whether services are being delivered efficiently and whether expenditure reflects genuine community priorities. That does not mean pretending Council can operate without revenue. Hobart needs roads, waste services, sporting grounds, parks, bushland management, public spaces, planning services, community facilities and a wide range of other infrastructure and services.

Those things have real costs.

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But Council should distinguish between what is essential, what provides demonstrable value to the community and what can reasonably be deferred, redesigned or discontinued.  Long-term asset management is particularly important. Failing to maintain infrastructure can appear cheaper in the short term but result in substantially greater costs later. Financial discipline therefore means both controlling unnecessary expenditure and investing responsibly in assets that the city will continue to need.

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Council should also look for opportunities to improve productivity, simplify processes and reduce duplication. Economic growth matters too. A stronger business environment broadens economic activity and makes the city more resilient. Ultimately, rates should be fair, understandable and supported by responsible decisions about expenditure.

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Ratepayers deserve confidence that their money is being treated with respect. That requires a Council prepared to set priorities, make difficult choices and maintain a disciplined focus on the services and infrastructure that matter most to the people of Hobart.