THE campaign driven by small landowners against paying Livestock Health and Pest Authority (LHPA) rates appears to be kicking into top gear in the lead-up to the introduction of Local Land Services (LLS) early next year.
While attempts to launch a class action against the NSW government on the grounds that LPHA rates are unconstitutional have hit a brick wall, due mainly to a lack of financial backing, organisers are planning public meetings throughout the State to gain momentum for the fight.
Despite several court judgements going against those who have refused to pay the rates, many others say they will take the same path in order to raise awareness of the issue.
Hay grower Howard Furner, “Gumboot Gully”, Goonengerry near Lismore, said debt collectors had this year served more than 200 statements of claim on North Coast landholders who had not paid LHPA rates.
The LHPA has declined to provide figures on how many cases it currently has with the Small Claims Division of the Local Court.
Media officer Dave Ranine said it was “not of any news value”.
“We have processes in place to manage the payment and collection of monies owed as regulated under the Rural Lands Protection Act,” he said.
“The specific figures involved form an integral part of our organisation structure but it is not one we would be happy to divulge.”
Mr Furner, and other coastal small area landowners who would be contesting the claims in court, have argued they do not receive any service for the rates they are charged.
“Wild dogs are the biggest problem landowners face around here and the LHPA has been ineffective in providing any assistance,” he said.
“We are employing dog trappers at our own expense – at $100 a week retainer and $100 per dog.”
Cowra sheep grazier Richard Wells, “Bedrock”, said it was getting harder and harder to use agricultural land for the purpose it was originally zoned and at the same time, landowners were being made to pay for services that benefitted all.
Taree district beef producer Ray Gorton, “Wongabena”, Killabakh, said since 1985 he had had advice from LHPA veterinarians only three times and didn’t feel that equated to value for his rates.
“The majority of landowners I know do not believe it is fair and just but pay their rates because there is no legal outlet for a protest,” he said.
Bywong’s Trevor Kirk, a former accountant, said he was willing to go to jail before paying “what amounts to an excise that picks on people who like to live in the country”.
Mr Kirk, who has spent $20,000 unsuccessfully fighting the LHPA over rates due on his eight hectare block, is the instigator of LHPAclassaction.com, which this year has joined up 17 members.
He believes the potential lowering of the rateable land size from the current 10ha to 2ha under the new LLS regime next year will see an influx of landowners join the battle.
That recommendation was made in the draft Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal report, which has been on public exhibition, with a final report due to the NSW government at the end of the month.
It was something NSW Farmers lobbied for, according to the organisation’s Conservation and Resource Management Committee chairman Mitchell Clapham.
“It’s quite reasonable to expect people on small holdings who receive a benefit pay accordingly,” he said.
“Under the LLS, rates will reflect the needs of the area in which you live so, as an example, for small landowners on the coast, dog baiting costs will probably not be reflected in rates.”
However, Mr Kirk said as all Australians benefit from biosecurity all should pay, as they do for border security, from federal revenue.