The Opposition have vowed to ensure no local government is financially worse off following the Cook Labor Government’s decision to legislate against a Supreme Court ruling allowing rates to be raised on miscellaneous mining licences.
Leader of The Nationals WA, Shane Love MLA, said the Local Government Amendment (Rating of Certain Mining Licenses) Bill 2025 represented a major financial risk to almost half of WA’s local governments.
“According to the Minister for Local Government, over 60 councils could be impacted by these laws, which are a massive overreach into local government powers and could threaten their financial sustainability,” Mr Love said.
“Understandably, the resources sector sees the Supreme Court ruling as an extra cost of doing business, the flip side is that these laws will remove a revenue stream to local governments across WA.
“The Nationals will seek to amend the legislation so councils forced to forego and repay rates can be compensated from the State Government via a revitalised Royalties for Regions Country Local Government Fund.”
Shadow Minister for Local Government, Kirrilee Warr MLA, said The Nationals WA stood shoulder-to-shoulder with WA’s local governments on this issue.
“These laws are the latest attack on local government and were specifically designed in response to a single council, the Shire of Mount Magnet, issuing lawful rates notices on miscellaneous land,” Ms Warr said.
Miscellaneous land refers to land on mining tenements which is used for non-mining purposes, including for roads, airstrips, and essential power and water infrastructure.
Ms Warr said it was a “blatant double standard” that the State Government collected rent revenue from miscellaneous licenses under the Mining Act but was blocking local governments from rating the same land.
“The State Government understands the value of this land, because they already collect revenue from it through the Mining Act, yet they won’t allow Local Governments to lawfully collect revenue through the same mechanism.
“If the Government insists on passing these laws, the least they can do is ensure councils are fully compensated for the loss of current and future income.”
Ms Warr said local governments had been stepping up to provide essential services like health, housing, and aged care, with minimal support from the State Government.
“A revitalised Country local Government Fund, properly funded through Royalties for Regions, will help councils continue this vital work and ensure ratepayers aren’t left to pick up the tab for Labor’s heavy-handed legislation,” Ms Warr said.