23 August 2006

Ratepayers Are Treated Like Political Football On Rates Issue.

Inquiry Will Not Protect Ratepayers From Harsh Increases Next Year.

The announcement of an Independent Inquiry into rates is not good news for ratepayers who will have a long wait before new legislation is in place which might protect them from the harsh rates increases they will face over the next few years.

The is no doubt that it is the anger of ratepayers which has forced the Government into the position of agreeing to the Independent Inquiry - but the Inquiry leaves unanswered the demand from ratepayers that controls be placed on councils ability to raise rates beyond agreed limits without the active consent of the community,

Already we see that the councils lobby group, Local Government New Zealand, is welcoming the Independent Inquiry because, according to its president, it hates the idea of rates capping.

Councils do not want any controls placed in the hands of their ratepayers - and it is clear that Local Government New Zealand does not speak for ratepayers.

The performance of parties in Parliament in the last 24 hours has been nothing less than political football - with ratepayers being the ball.

This whole situation defies the objectives of this campaign which are widely supported throughout the length of the country.

This campaign will continue and expand and the next steps in our campaign will be announced in the next day or two.

ENDS

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