Why there’s so much anger over the bin tax in Yarra council

More than 100 residents demonstrated on the steps of Richmond Town Hall as the City of Yarra council voted to introduce a separate waste charge on ratepayers.

The bin tax allows councils to circumvent the rate cap rules imposed on councils by the state government, which allow rates to increase by 3.5 per cent from July 1, by separating charges for waste collection. It means councils can increase total rates by more than the rate cap limit.

Of Victoria’s 79 councils, Yarra was the only council which does not already have a bin tax, and which hadn’t already voted to impose one.

Press PLAY below to hear why there’s so much fury in Yarra over the decision

So why is there so much fury among Yarra ratepayers?

Vice-president of Council Watch, Dean Hurlston, says it comes down to the amount the council spends on staff.

“What we heard last night was a community very angry and frustrated that out of their rates income, where normally a council pays about 60 per cent of your rates towards salaries for staff, Yarra has one of the highest levels in Victoria at 81 per cent,” he told Ross and Russel.

“What that says is the council is bloated, has too many staff and is inefficient.”