Shire wants ‘foreign ownership’ details
THE state and federal governments are being asked to consider establishing a database of land in Australia that is owned by overseas interests.
The suggestion by Mornington Peninsula Shire is part of a request for information of foreign ownership of land on the peninsula, particularly in the green wedge and special use zones.
Cr David Gill said he believed Australians had “a right to know about foreign ownership of our country”.
“We have a right to know about land banking by foreign identities, especially by developers pushing to rezone and subdivide,” he said.
“We should also know about lobby groups trying to exert influence over our various governments whose political parties still accept donations from self-interested land investors.”
Budget up for comment
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire is inviting comments on its $252 million budget for 2021/22.
A state government-imposed rate cap of 1.5% has encouraged the shire to define a four-year rating and revenue “envelope” within which it can “deliver on the council plan, programs and services”.
The proposed budget agreed to at council’s Tuesday 30 March meeting will be open for written submissions until Tuesday 29 April.
Anyone who wants to speak in support of their submission can do so at council’s 12 May meeting.
Submissions may be published on the shire’s website before the meeting, although the shire has cautioned that “offensive, defamatory or third-party personal information will not be published”.