‍At a Glance

• Western Sydney ratepayers contribute significant revenue through state levies

• Current tax settings risk regressive impacts on growing communities

• Housing growth must be matched by local infrastructure investment

• Public transport is essential to economic equity and social inclusion

A Collective Voice for Fairness

Tonight, I have proposed that Council strengthen its advocacy by joining fellow mayors across South Western Sydney in a united call to the NSW Government. The message is simple. We say no to disproportionate tax burdens on our communities, and yes to meaningful investment in public transport and local infrastructure.

I have always believed that advocacy is most effective when it is principled, evidence based, and collaborative. When councils speak together, we represent not institutions but communities.

The Waste Levy and Its Burden

The state waste levy generates significant annual revenue. Yet only a small proportion of these funds are directed toward waste management and recycling initiatives. The levy has also recently increased.

For Campbelltown ratepayers, the Section 88 levy represents an annual burden of approximately 3.2 million dollars. In principle, such a levy is designed to reduce waste and embed the polluter pays principle. Taxes of this nature are intended to account for environmental costs that would otherwise remain external to market pricing.

However, what was clear to me in reflecting on its operation is that flat or regressive charges can weigh more heavily on households already under financial pressure. Families experiencing cost of living stress spend a greater proportion of income on essential goods, many of which generate unavoidable waste. In that context, the impact of the levy is not evenly felt.

I am not arguing against environmental responsibility. On the contrary, waste reduction is an important objective. But revenue raised in Western Sydney should meaningfully support Western Sydney. Education campaigns, community recycling initiatives, and local waste infrastructure should be visible outcomes of funds collected from our residents.

Fiscal equity requires that both the burden and the benefit be fairly distributed.

Housing and Productivity Contribution

The Housing and Productivity Contribution introduces a uniform charge on new developments, regardless of dwelling value. In practical terms, this can result in markedly different effective tax rates across Sydney.

A fixed charge applied to a modest dwelling in Western Sydney represents a far greater proportion of its value than the same charge applied to a higher value property elsewhere. In that sense, the structure raises legitimate questions about proportionality and capacity to pay.

I have always believed that tax systems should reflect two enduring principles. The first is capacity to contribute. The second is a reasonable connection between where revenue is raised and where benefit is delivered.

Western Sydney is carrying a substantial share of housing growth. Yet there is no firm guarantee that the contributions generated locally will be reinvested locally. Where growth is concentrated, infrastructure demand is immediate and tangible. Roads, open space, schools, health facilities, and community infrastructure must keep pace.

When revenue flows outward and infrastructure lags behind, communities experience the strain directly.

Public Transport as Economic and Social Infrastructure

The debate about density within 800 metres of transport hubs underscores a fundamental truth. Public transport is the backbone of sustainable urban development.

In Campbelltown, vehicle ownership is high. More than half of households own at least two vehicles. This is not simply preference. It reflects necessity. A significant proportion of residents travel outside the area for work, predominantly by private car.

The financial burden of vehicle ownership is considerable. For many households, transport costs consume a meaningful share of income. In a community where a substantial number of households are classified as low income and where some suburbs rank among the most disadvantaged in Australia, access to reliable and efficient public transport is not a luxury. It is a matter of equity.

Improved transport connectivity unlocks employment opportunities, enhances productivity, and strengthens social inclusion. It allows residents to access education, healthcare, and recreation without undue cost or delay. It connects communities to one another and to the broader metropolitan economy.

The advancement of public transport in Western Sydney is therefore not merely a transport issue. It is central to economic resilience and social cohesion.

A Unified Petition

Over the past year, we have written extensively, met with Ministers and Members, and presented evidence to parliamentary inquiries. We have articulated the case calmly and consistently.

When those efforts yield limited response, it is appropriate to consider broader collective action. A joint petition by Western Sydney councils is not an act of defiance. It is an expression of democratic advocacy. It signals that the issues at hand transcend municipal boundaries.

“We are left with no other option, than to petition the Government with the other Western Sydney Councils to secure action on these issues.”

Reflection

In reflecting on these matters, I return to a simple conviction. Growth, taxation, and infrastructure must align.

Western Sydney has demonstrated its willingness to contribute to the state’s prosperity through housing supply and economic participation. In return, our communities deserve equitable treatment in fiscal policy and meaningful investment in the transport systems that sustain daily life.

Advocacy is not about opposition for its own sake. It is about stewardship. It is about ensuring that the burdens borne by our residents are matched by visible and tangible benefits in their own neighbourhoods.

Read the original Mayoral Minute here: Advocacy Petitions - Taxes and Public Transport