Tasmanian Liberals and Labor support land sales to reclaim unpaid rates

The support comes after two Northern councils voted to sell occupied and unoccupied land to recover the fees. 

Some debts totals more than $13,300. Local government minister Peter Gutwein said it was a matter for councils. “It should be noted that this action can only occur if rates haven’t been paid for three or more years and councils have met their obligations under the act,” Mr Gutwein said. 

“[The obligations] are significant in terms of attempting to contact and notify property owners or other interested parties, as well as a period of public notice.”

Labor Denison MLC Madeline Ogilvie said selling the properties should be an “absolute last resort”. 

“We would want to be assured that every effort has been made to work cooperatively with property owners to negotiate payment plans,” Ms Ogilvie said. “However, there is clearly a big difference between someone suffering financial hardship, and cases where owners may be seeking to make a political point by not paying rates.

“If a homeowner has a genuine problem meeting their rates, they should not face the prospect of losing their home.”

A council’s duty of care has been questioned by Meander Valley councillor John Temple, after the organisation sold a property in the region. 

Cr Temple’s questions were taken on notice from the October meeting and answered in the November agenda. He asked if the council agreed there was a difference between selling a vacant piece of land and selling a family home. The answer “would generally be yes”, the council’s corporate services director Jonathan Harmey said. 

Cr Temple also asked if the council thought it should have protected the owner’s interests better. Mr Harmey said the house’s former owners were provided with “substantial opportunity” to cease the sale process.