{"id":298963,"date":"2021-05-13T11:11:30","date_gmt":"2021-05-13T01:11:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=298963"},"modified":"2021-05-13T18:55:40","modified_gmt":"2021-05-13T08:55:40","slug":"mayor-responds-to-criticism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2021\/05\/13\/mayor-responds-to-criticism\/","title":{"rendered":"Mayor Responds To Criticism"},"content":{"rendered":"
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South Burnett Mayor Brett Otto … “no apologies” (Photo: SBRC)\u00a0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

May 13, 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n

southburnett.com.au<\/strong> invited Mayor Brett Otto to respond to criticism made on Monday by former South Burnett mayor Keith Campbell.<\/p>\n

Mayor Otto released the following media statement on Thursday morning:<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

“I welcome the opportunity to respond to the article entitled “Ex-Mayor: Hard Decisions Ahead” based on statements by former mayor Keith Campbell.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“The zero rate rise last year delivered under my leadership was the responsible and compassionate thing to do.<\/p>\n

“Rate hikes, closing down community assets such as halls, swimming pools and libraries and spending less on roads does not cut the mustard.<\/p>\n

“This is not bold leadership. All this does it take our region backwards. It’s only by being bold that you get anywhere.<\/p>\n

“Never before has a mayor had to deal with a global pandemic on top of one of the worst droughts in history, so, yes, it was a bold and historic decision.<\/p>\n

“I will never apologise for easing the burden on struggling families, pensioners and farmers during a generational crisis.<\/p>\n

“As an accountant, no one understands the importance of fixing the Budget more than me. That\u2019s why I worked to deliver $1.4 million of savings in last year\u2019s Budget. This is exactly what the people elected me to do.<\/p>\n

“There\u2019s more work to be done to get Council out of deficit and that is what I intend to do.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“There will be no stone left unturned in finding efficiencies across Council.<\/p>\n

“After just one year into our term, we are already actioning measures to deal with long-standing Budget problems, including:<\/p>\n