October 31, 2025
The winner of the South Burnett Regional Council’s recent “rates notice” competition has been announced.
Shannon Campbell, from Nanango, will receive $500 off their next rates bill.
The competition aimed to encourage ratepayers to receive their rates levy notices by email.
Council decided to give ratepayers who changed over to email, or who were already receiving rate levy notices by email, the opportunity of winning a one-off $500 credit towards their next rate levy.
Shannon was surprised by his win and said it was wonderful news as he was in the process of renovating his home.
The competition also was a success as about 25 per cent more ratepayers chose to receive their rate levy notices by email.
[UPDATED with correction]
What about those ratepayers who were already on the email billing? What about the ratepayers who are self-funded retirees and get no pensioner discount? Will council offer us a milking cow shed?
As we reported, ratepayers who were already on the email scheme were also entered into the competition.
Sorry, I didn’t realise all emailers were included. However my other comments regarding self-funded retirees remains my opinion.
What about those of us who are not on any email scheme but for 25 years have paid their rates the DAY AFTER receiving them? Not because they are rich but because they put away a bit each fortnight so it’s there when needed.
Why not just be fair and give everyone an extra piece off their already high rates?
Currently annual rates take nearly 20% of a single person’s pension. There is a huge fallacy out there that everyone of pension age (65 plus) is rich and have millions of dollars of super…
In fact this is not right. Most people of that age are on the pension only because super was not a *thing* in the 70s and 80s. When I worked at a hospital back then, there was no provision for super, it was up to you to put money away in a savings account in a bank, out of your pitiful wage (certainly NO employer contributions).
And I do get sick of hearing people bleating “if you own a house you are rich!” HOW SO? If all you own is your house, it does not matter how much it’s worth, because you cannot realise it, because you are living in it!
The only way to realise home wealth is to sell, and what then? Why you have to buy another home to live in! Which will cost about the same, so you may as well have stayed where you are.
The only winners are those with an investment house, not pensioners who live in their one home and struggle to pay rates.
So instead of a one-off competition, just spread the love around a bit more fairly.
PS. I’m grateful we at least have the early pay discount, which several councils have now dropped.
Inspiring thoughts from Last of the Time Lords