Whitsunday Rate Payers Association gains support

 The Whitsunday Ratepayers Association (WRA) is now 450 members-strong, with executives noticing increased support, particularly from Proserpine.

 WRA President Adrian Abrahams said members were communicating a clear message that council should not be perceived as political.

 “Local government should be about delivering the services the community needs,” Mr Abrahams said.

 The association has been particularly active this year, in lobbying against a purely postal vote and liaising with the Electorate Commission Queensland (ECQ) on the proposed changes to divisional boundaries.

 WRA secretary Tony Moscato said he believed the association had achieved some measure of success from its communications with ECQ, “but it’s still not what we want”.

 “The (current) proposal by the commission is a lot better that the initial proposal by council, but it is still far from ideal. (However) we have great hope that the commission will consider our two submissions and act in a fair and reasonable manner,” Mr Moscato said.

 As for the matter of postal voting WRA treasurer Ross Plowman says his next step will be writing a letter to the minister for local government.

 “We want to officially request that the minister determines this matter once and for all, now, and not just prior to the election,” Mr Plowman said.

 Also at work within the association is a newly formed sub-committee, which is looking to tackle the issue of insurance industry price controlling.

 Lester Riley, who is at the forefront of this particular campaign, along with WRA members Margaret Shaw and Dave Tindall, said the group was currently focused on compiling data.

 “The key thing is you can’t get any competitive quotes. However you look at it this is a rort by insurance companies,” Mr Riley said.

 According to Mr Riley the insurance industry has targeted multi-level resort buildings in north Queensland as a means of extracting maximum premiums following the summer’s natural disasters. Mr Riley says increases of up to 350 per cent have been implemented, which are “absolutely incredible and indefensible”.

 “This is unconscionable conduct and must surely border on industry protectionism, price fixing, or even criminal intent,” he said.

 Last, but by no means least, WRA executives say they are “very pleased” to be meeting with council for budget discussions, possibly within the next month.