26th January 2012

‘Occupy’ protestors should be made to pay for damage

Now that the last protestors have been removed, and some protestors have been arrested, ratepayers will expect that those responsible for all the damage to public property will be made to pay for its re-instatement.

While the Auckland Council took far too long to remove the illegal occupiers, that fact does not absolve the protestors from their responsibility for the damage to public property.

Reports suggest that the cost of repairs, plus the legal costs and costs of security staff, could well amount to more than $100,000 – and possibly much more.

At the moment those costs will fall on the ratepayers of Auckland, many of whom who are already threatened with higher rates as a result of the switch to Capital Value for the next financial year.

Everyone has the right to protest – but no one has the right to vandalise public property which is owned and maintained by the ratepayers and residents of Auckland.

ENDS

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