Brisbane Rate Rise Row: Labor and City Council Clash Over Figures
By Juliano Oliveira
Opposition and Brisbane City Council are trading barbs over recent ABS figures on increased rates.
In a statement released today, Brisbane’s Labor claimed that while most other capitals have limited their increases to 5% or less, Brisbane residents and ratepayers have faced an 8.3% rise in the rates, fees, and charges paid to Council over the past year.
“Whether you’re renovating your home, registering a dog, opening a small business or burying a loved one, it’s becoming more expensive to live, work and play in Brisbane than ever before,” Leader of the Opposition, Cr. Jared Cassidy said.
The Opposition also slammed Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner by affirming that he “is struggling to keep the lights on, making drastic cuts to the bricks and mortar of Council, while liabilities and expenses continue to escalate into the hundreds of millions of dollars.”
Brisbane City Council told MAN TV that Labor’s figures have been misrepresented and that the 8.3 per cent figure includes Logan, Redland, Ipswich and Morton Bay – and bundles in State charges and fees from other council areas outside of Brisbane.
“Fees and charges did not change in our latest financial reports. Only our annual budget can change fees and charges.
“The average rate increase was 3.87 per cent in the last annual budget, lower than the current CPI rate of 5.2 per cent – which is effectively a rate decrease in real terms.”
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