ADMINISTRATION, page-281

The rates issue is a little more complicated than that. Mr Summers wasn't just protesting his rate payments, he was suggesting that all Australians boycott paying their rates because, from his perspective, all of them were unconstitutional. The ABC has a story on it: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-24/avebury-nickel-mine-owes-council-$1m-in-unpaid-rates/11039818

The Advocate also ran a story (below) because he then called for the axing of all Tasmanian local governments. West Coast Council is able to charge rates on mining leases and the outstanding amount included rates that were payable, but not paid, prior to the change in ownership to Dundas Mining.

From the Advocate:

Tasmanian councils and their rates charges should be abolished, a disgruntled businessman has told a state government review

."Councils are a complete rort," mining hopeful Geoff Summers said in a submission to the review of local government legislation.
"Wind up all councils."Mr Summers, who is in dispute with the West Coast Council over rates charges for the Avebury Nickel Mine, said the state government should take over council activities, immediately cancel all outstanding rates charges and refund current rates already paid.

"They are calculating and charging unjustifiable, punitive taxes upon the good citizens and businesses of Tasmania and then wasting our money," Mr Summers said."It's most likely illegal." Mr Summers said the West Coast Council had overcharged the company which owned Avebury by millions of dollars in rates.

He said he had legal advice that made him confident he was in the right, and hoped the council would change its mind. Mr Summers said the matter would end up in the courts otherwise and, if the council lost and costs were awarded against it, ratepayers would be hit. He disagrees with the valuation of the mine - which is on care and maintenance, not producing - and the level of rates the council charges for Avebury.

"They're running business out of the West Coast ...," he said.Mr Summers said the mine would create about 200 direct jobs if it entered production. "We want to get on with developing the project, employing people and creating jobs in the community," Mr Summers said.

.West Coast Mayor Phil Vickers said Mr Summers was entitled to his view about abolishing councils."The concept of just having the state government look after all Tasmania, it's a governance option for sure," Cr Vickers said."Tasmania is an interesting place when you look at governance."We've got two houses of parliament, 29 local government authorities, all for a population less than Geelong ..."On the rates dispute with Mr Summers, Cr Vickers said he was adamant the council had acted within the local government rating rules and in accordance with its rating policy.