Brisbane general rates for owner occupiers will increase by just 3.45% on average – less than half the city’s current rate of inflation, Lord Mayor Adrian, Schrinner announced today.
Announcing the city’s Budget 2023-24 today, the Lord Mayor said the increase of around $1.50-a-week was far lower than the “spiralling cost of other everyday items”.
“Brisbane already has the cheapest rates in south east Queensland,” he said.
“Our Budget guarantees that continues before most other councils have even handed down their budgets.
“Rapidly rising costs of basic items like milk, food and electricity are having a big impact on household budgets.
“Our Council team made keeping rates low the number one priority in this Budget and we’ve achieved that with a rise that is less than half Brisbane’s inflation rate.
“It’s also in line with the increase in State Government fees and charges announced in March.”
The Lord Mayor said Brisbane’s lowest residential rate will be $847.12 in 2023-24.
After a 6.5% general rate rise, the Gold Coast’s lowest residential rate will increase to $1223.97 in 2023-24. This is $376.85 more than Brisbane, the Lord Mayor said.
He said that under the Brisbane Council’s $80 million commitment to keeping living costs down, the 3.45% increase in general rates for Brisbane owner occupiers compares to:
- 7.4% current Brisbane inflation
- 16% increase in milk
- 13% increase in bread
- 8% increase in insurance
- 8% increase in food
- 26% increase in gas and other fuels
- 15.5% increase in electricity
Lord Mayor Schrinner said the Budget still delivered a record $3.8 billion four-year infrastructure program that would keep Brisbane moving.
“In the past few years, Brisbane has been through a global pandemic, a flood and now a housing and inflation crisis,” he said.
“Years of sensible financial management means we have been able to weather these storms while still delivering a low rate rise, record investment in footpaths, regular road resurfacing and lower-than-forecast debt.
“The alternative is a destructive Green/Labor alliance that will cost every Brisbane household dearly.
“Labor’s record of four above 6% rate rises includes a massive 6.55% hike that was 21 times the rate of inflation. Appalling.”
Lord Mayor Schrinner said almost $44 million in discounts and rebates also would be handed back to ratepayers.
“Over 262,000 owner-occupier ratepayers – or about four out of five – are expected to benefit from our $60 on-time payment discount,” he said.
“More than 39,000 pensioners will receive our pension rebate, the most generous pensioner rebate scheme in Queensland.
“These are increasingly important measures given the rising living costs impacting households.”
