Distraction from the economic No#2

Opening statement to the Paliamentary Inquiry into Local Government cost-shifting inquiry 5 September 2002: Canberra paragraph 20 There is a suggestion that local government's taxation base could be broadened. This option is certainly worthy of further consideration, but I suspect that there is something of a quid pro quo in that, if local government were to expand its tax base, our constituents-whom we share with the other levels of government-would expect that, if we were taxing for a function, there would be an offset and the other levels would not be taxing for that purpose. Councillor John Ross President (2000-02) Australian Local Government Association