What he stands for

Where major planned events interrupt residents and business for more than one week, including bump-in and bump-out periods, advocate compensation for residents and all businesses located within the proclaimed vicinity and the area immediately adjacent to the event area.

There should be an implied obligation on all Governments whereby major planned events that interrupt residential and commercial activities provide equivalent compensation for any given loss.

Residents’ compensation to include exemption of rates for at least the equivalent period of the event (including bump-in and bump-out) and any other out-of-pocket related expenses.

Business compensation will be turnover-related payments based on the equivalent period of interruption, including bump-in and bump-out, plus exemption of rates for at least the equivalent period. Business turnover based on annualised average weekly turnover, plus any additional out-of-pocket related expenses.

Private buildings built on Crown land or parklands should not be exempt from paying Council rates. Currently within the prescribed City of Adelaide, including the Parklands precinct, there is a hideous situation of the Walker Corporation owned towers being exempted from Council rates because the developments were built on Crown land.

Universities are exempt but should contribute and agree to make a “voluntary rates equivalent”. All universities located within the City of Adelaide precinct which are privately directed through their Boards of Management should be making financial contributions for their City properties. Not contributing financially but receiving Council services as per common ratepayers is costly to taxpayers and unfair.

The land comprising Lot 14 is exempt under Section 147 of the SA Local Government Act 1999. As Lot 14 is located on Crown land, that still does not negate the fact that the businesses located within the precinct are not for public use and should not be exempt from local council rates — again this is unfair and marginalises other like businesses which do contribute to rates.

Every business with an ABN which operates within the Adelaide City Council — or indeed in any Council across South Australia — should be entitled to one vote per business at a Local Government election or supplementary election. Regardless of whether a business is located in a shared co-working space or not, each business should be entitled to one vote per election.

All businesses located in the Adelaide City Council precinct do contribute to rates either within their leasing arrangements or rental agreements. To streamline and simplify the extremely convoluted and complex requirement to prove entitlement to vote as a business, a process whereby the business owner provides either an ASIC extract or a Statutory Declaration to Council proving location should suffice, plus including the owner’s legitimacy on the State’s Electoral Roll.

If the business has several businesses across the one Council, that business is only eligible for one vote; however if the business has several outlets across different Councils then it should be entitled to one vote per business per Council.

Currently the CEO of a Council in South Australia is involved in making final decisions on who and how a business can vote in a local Government election. This should not be allowed — it places both the CEO of the respective Council and the business owner at potential conflict, and this should not be the remit of Council.

This policy provides simple opportunities for businesses to be involved, informed, and engaged with Councils, knowing that they are valued and adding value to their local communities.

Developers must include compensation plans in their applications to protect nearby residents and businesses if unexpected disruptions or delays happen during the project.

All major developments that impede, interrupt, or delay residential liveability and/or business operations must have auto built-in compensation clauses, which provide adequate remuneration measures that equalise any such loss. It is important that developers consider this compensation upon tendering through their application processes, including a compensation plan with built-in risk analysis and mitigation strategy.