A suggestion to introduce a blanket suspension of interest charges on outstanding debts has been knocked back by Hilltops Council.
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In noting the outstanding rates and charges collection report, councillor Tony Flanery moved an amendment that, with reference to the COVID-19 pandemic, "council instantly cease interest on outstanding rates charges until further notice".
Cr Flanery said charging interest on debt during the pandemic would only make it harder for ratepayers who are going through financial hardship.
"I think all governments need to put their hand up to help out what is a very, very difficult situation," he said.
"I don't believe we should be exacerbating the situation by charging interest on outstanding rates until we can get through this crisis and deal with those who have been affected by job losses or lower income."
Councillor Matthew Stadtmiller echoed his colleague's sentiments, saying while it would be only a small reprieve, it will assist Hilltops ratepayers.
"Although some residents may have other reasons why they haven't been able to pay their rates up until this stage, the COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated some circumstance for those people," Cr Stadtmiller said.
"I know this will only make a minor financial response to their issues but I think we really should do our best to help out those suffering in the community at the moment and continue to lobby the state government to approve funding."
Councillor Tony Wallace however spoke against the amendment, saying council has been dealing with a number of outstanding debts for a long time.
"I think to blanket suspend interest isn't equitable for all those people and for the people who have paid," he said.
"There's no money coming from the state or federal government to cover us for this and I think for us to do this would be remiss."
Councillor Greg Armstrong said some people may try to take advantage of a blanket suspension.
"This action I feel would effectively encourage the non-compliant ratepayers to continue with their non-compliance and certainly discourage those compliant ratepayers from being compliant in the future," Cr Armstrong said.
"I think that there should be other means of providing relief and certainly council does have a policy that relates to rate relief.... The application of that policy is the correct means of providing that support."
Cr Armstrong noted that council was also operating at a loss.
"I would remind council that council is cash-strapped and with an operating loss last year of millions of dollars," he said.
"To write back any amount now in the form of relief without proper due course I believe is an action in error."
Cr Flanery said it would be a gesture of goodwill to the ratepayers.
"When we're seeing the amount of money that the federal government is stumping up and the state government, we have got to be aware of what our role is in the community," he said.
"I also think that it also provides council an opportunity to show a little bit of goodwill to those who are in trouble and we can work with them then but it's just known, that when people get into arrears, adding stress to stress just causes more stress."
The amendment was ultimately lost six to four and the original motion, to note the report, was approved.
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