There would be no council rate increases as a result of the state government reintroducing a previously-imposed tax on property developers, Local Government Association of Queensland president, Cr Paul Bell said today.

“A continuing, dishonest advertising campaign by the Property Council and the Shopping Centre Council wants to assure the public that, because the state government has correctly asked them to again pay their fair share of land tax, that this will cause councils to raise rates,” Cr Bell said.

“If you can stretch a bow to its limit, that’s what this claim is doing,” he said.

“The truth is that the amendments to the legislation prevent a recent Court of Appeal decision overturning decades of past practice in the valuation of commercial property.

“The decision will, in fact, help to stabilise rates for ordinary ratepayers by insulating them from higher land valuation-associated costs.

“What these groups want is to pocket a windfall of more than a billion dollars in rates and property taxes – never mind that they would be reducing the funds available for hospitals, roads, water and sewerage.

“There is no new tax. What the big end of town is doing is attempting to thrust their taxes onto the ordinary punter.

“Councils throughout Queensland are right behind the state government move.

This campaign by the property developers should be seen for what it is – a ridiculous, unsubstantiated bluff,” Cr Bell said.

Cr Paul Bell, AM
President
president@lgaq.asn.au    P: 07 3000 2222    M: 0418 791 596