The Western Weekender
-
Upload
western-weekender -
Category
Documents
-
view
218 -
download
1
description
Transcript of The Western Weekender
![Page 1: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
![Page 2: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
![Page 3: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
1075WWD20868
P enrith residents could be signifi cantly worse off if a plan endorsed by Penrith City Council to change the funding structure
of emergency services is implemented by the State Government, according to Greens Councillor, Michelle Tormey.
In response to the State Government’s proposal to change the way NSW Fire and Rescue, State Emergency Services and the Rural Fire Brigade are funded, Penrith City Council voted on Monday night that a levy on properties would be favourable in comparison to the current funding structure.
As it stands, insurance companies contribute 73 per cent of the total funds available for emergency services, with the State Government providing 15 per cent of the pool and Local Governments 12 per cent.
Cr Ross Fowler said that the current system is inequitable because insurance companies recover their costs from insured homes only – meaning those people who are not insuring their homes are not contributing to the cost of emergency services.
“We have something like 800,000 homes in NSW that are not insured. Th ere is a signifi cant inequity,” he said.
Cr Greg Davies added that: “I am not opposed to fi nding a fairer way of determining funding for emergency services… [but] the levy really should be based on the asset that is on the property, not the actual property”.
Th e Councillors agreed that a fl at rate levy should not be placed on residents, but
a tax on the added value of the property (ad valorem tax), and that the Offi ce of State Revenue should be responsible for the collection of the levy, not councils.
But Cr Tormey said that the ad valorem tax would signifi cantly shift the burden of the emergency services budget from businesses to residents.
“Currently, the majority of funding for emergency services comes from insurance levies, with businesses paying 49 per cent, residential property owners paying 45 per
cent and rural property owners paying six per cent of those levies,” she said.
When looking at who uses emergency services the most, businesses are 55 per cent of all call outs, followed by residential properties at 34 per cent and seven per cent of all emergency services jobs are rural properties.
“However, under an ad valorem tax, residential property owners would see their share increase to 75 per cent, and rural property owners’ share would
increase to 12 per cent,” Cr Tormey said.“I feel that the Government is shifting
the burden from businesses to residents, despite the high proportion of call-outs that businesses are responsible for – that’s why I oppose the current proposal.”
Cr Tormey said that she is also concerned that residents may end up contributing twice, because there is no guarantee that insurance companies will reduce their policy fees if the levy is changed.
Green sees red over fundingCouncillor believes residents could face fi nancial pain if changes proceed
One of Penrith’s newest councillors has broken away from a usually quiet entrance to speak out about potential changes to
emergency services funding...
CASSANDRA O’CONNOR
Greens Councillor, Michelle Tormey, is concerned over the way emergency services funding is proposed to be changed. Photo: Melinda Jane.
Local N
ews
03
www.westernweekender.com.au
The Western W
eekender | Friday, October 19, 2012
![Page 4: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
![Page 5: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
![Page 6: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
![Page 7: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
![Page 8: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
![Page 9: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
![Page 10: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
![Page 11: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
![Page 12: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
![Page 13: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
![Page 14: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
![Page 15: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
![Page 16: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
![Page 17: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
![Page 18: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
![Page 19: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
![Page 20: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
![Page 21: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
![Page 22: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
![Page 23: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
![Page 24: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
![Page 25: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
![Page 26: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
![Page 27: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
![Page 28: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
![Page 29: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
![Page 30: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
![Page 31: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
![Page 32: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
![Page 33: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
![Page 34: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/34.jpg)
![Page 35: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/35.jpg)
![Page 36: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/36.jpg)
![Page 37: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/37.jpg)
![Page 38: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/38.jpg)
![Page 39: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/39.jpg)
![Page 40: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/40.jpg)
![Page 41: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/41.jpg)
![Page 42: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/42.jpg)
![Page 43: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/43.jpg)
![Page 44: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/44.jpg)
![Page 45: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/45.jpg)
![Page 46: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/46.jpg)
![Page 47: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/47.jpg)
![Page 48: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/48.jpg)
![Page 49: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/49.jpg)
![Page 50: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/50.jpg)
![Page 51: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/51.jpg)
![Page 52: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/52.jpg)
![Page 53: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/53.jpg)
![Page 54: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/54.jpg)
![Page 55: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/55.jpg)
![Page 56: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/56.jpg)
![Page 57: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/57.jpg)
![Page 58: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/58.jpg)
![Page 59: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/59.jpg)
![Page 60: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/60.jpg)
![Page 61: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/61.jpg)
![Page 62: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/62.jpg)
![Page 63: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/63.jpg)
![Page 64: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/64.jpg)
![Page 65: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/65.jpg)
![Page 66: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/66.jpg)
![Page 67: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/67.jpg)
![Page 68: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/68.jpg)
![Page 69: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/69.jpg)
![Page 70: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/70.jpg)
![Page 71: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/71.jpg)
![Page 72: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/72.jpg)
![Page 73: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/73.jpg)
![Page 74: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/74.jpg)
![Page 75: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/75.jpg)
![Page 76: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/76.jpg)
![Page 77: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/77.jpg)
![Page 78: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/78.jpg)
![Page 79: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/79.jpg)
![Page 80: The Western Weekender](https://reader037.fdocuments.us/reader037/viewer/2022103008/568c36351a28ab0235972dad/html5/thumbnails/80.jpg)