274AApplication of payments made to metropolitan water corporations

274A Application of payments made to metropolitan water corporations (1) Any money paid to a metropolitan water corporation by or on behalf of a person or body must be applied by the metropolitan water corporation as follows— (a) first towards any amount owing to the corporation by the person or body in respect of any water usage charge or any other fee or charge imposed by that corporation; (b) secondly, towards any amount owing to the rating authority by that person or body that is being collected by the corporation on behalf of the rating authority; (c) thirdly, towards any amount owing to the Melbourne Water Corporation by that person or body that is being collected by the corporation on behalf of the Melbourne Water Corporation. (2) Any dispute arising between a metropolitan water corporation and the rating authority or Melbourne Water Corporation over the application of any money under subsection (1) may be referred to the Treasurer by any party to the dispute and the decision of the Treasurer on the matter is binding on the parties. (3) In this section ***rating authority*** means the Minister administering Part 4 of the **Water Industry Act 1994**.