MINUTE WITH THE MAYOR Ramon Jayo

On Tuesday, dependent upon what happens with Ex-Cyclone Alfred, I will be attending the Local Government Association of Queensland Civic Leaders Summit in Brisbane. The Summit is an informative platform that brings together all the Mayors in Queensland, politicians and specialist advisers enabling insight into emerging issues, innovative solutions to issues and exchange of ideas through networking with colleagues and government.

Matters that will be discussed include the agenda for making insurance more affordable and a funding increase for Local Governments through the Australian Federal Government Assistance Grants.

Tragic stories emanating from the recent floods endured in our district are confirming the fact that more and more people are forgoing insurance on their properties, due to significant cost increases over recent years and also as a means of cutting costs for household budgets with the current cost of living crisis. Issues to be examined include greater transparency in how prices, particularly for flood insurance, are set by insurers and accounting for resilience and natural hazard mitigation processes.

In relation to the Federal Assistance Grants, did you know that local government only receives around three cents in every dollar of taxation revenue, compared to around eighty cents for the federal government and around seventeen cents for the state. The percentage payable to local government has not increased in the past twenty years despite local government, as the government closest to the people, enduring more and more responsibility for delivery of essential services to their communities through continuous state and federal cost shifting practices.

In a report released only last year by the Local Government Association of Queensland, it was identified that in 2002, the financial impact of services shifted onto ratepayers by upper levels of government over a period of twelve months was estimated to be $47 million. Two decades on, this has increased by a whopping 378 percent to around $360 million over one year. Communities cannot afford for this cost shift to continue. Cuts and cost shifts to local Council’s are cuts to the community.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of southeast Queensland whom have been impacted by Ex-Cyclone Alfred. We are fully aware of what you are going through and sympathise with your current situation. We hope that you remain as safe as possible and wish you a speedy recovery.