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Stop the Access Tax: Redland City Council’s “User Pays” Scheme is an Outrageous Double Dip

Written by Bill Wight CIBA Secretary 

Redland City Council is determined to stay the course, pushing the burden of maintaining and replacing jetties on Moreton Bay Islands directly onto the residents. But let’s call this out for what it really is: double-dipping, plain and simple.

Stop the Access Tax


Since the Council introduced these landing fees, the operator has been crippled, raking in a staggering $1,000,000 in fees. That’s $247,000 from Coochiemudlo Island residents alone in 2024, with projections indicating an eye-watering increase to $320,000 per year. The Council argues that it wouldn’t be fair for mainland residents to subsidize island infrastructure, treating this as a straightforward “user pays” scenario. But here’s the kicker—they’ve got it all wrong.

As a former mayor who faced down a 3,000-strong petition over  a “user pays” argument, I’ve had more reason than most to consider how this principle should be applied. I believe in the “user pays” principle, but this? This is a gross misapplication. I was determined when I was right and got there in the end. This is so wrong, I'm every bit as determined to see the wrong righted.


Petition to the Local Government Minister


Breaking Down the “User Pays” Principle

The user pays principle should apply to ensure that the costs associated with providing a special benefit to a specific group of users should be paid for by that specific set of users.

Step 1: Costs Association

To begin with, any decent accounting system can identify the direct costs involved in providing a specific benefit. Maintenance costs, future replacement allowances—they’re all part of the equation. Here, Redland City Council gets a big tick.




Step 2: Specific Group of Users

Next, we identify the specific group of users who benefit. On the surface, this appears straightforward—people who live on the Moreton Bay Islands and visitors are the primary beneficiaries. Another big tick.


Step 3: Special Benefit

But here’s where the wheels fall off. The “user pays” principle hinges on providing a special benefit to a specific group of users. And this? This is not a special benefit. A jetty is nothing more than a bus terminal for boats. Everyone in Redland City has access to a bus terminal. Public transport infrastructure is not a privilege for the few; it’s a right for all. The jetty is a lifeline, a necessity—not some luxury add-on. A big cross.



The Access Tax: A Blatant Double Dip

This is where Redland City Council’s argument collapses. This isn’t a special benefit—it’s an essential service, akin to the roads and bus terminals that your rates already cover. By charging these landing fees, the Council is double dipping—hitting Moreton Bay Islands residents twice for the same service.

This is not just an access fee; it’s an access tax.

Why This Matters: A Call to Action

The implications of this double-dip are profound. It’s not just about the money—it’s about fairness, about holding our leaders accountable to the principles they claim to uphold. It’s about ensuring that no resident of Redland City is unfairly burdened simply because of where they live.

We cannot allow this to stand. If we don’t push back now, what’s next? Higher fees, more taxes, more injustices? This is not the Redland City we believe in, and it’s certainly not the Redland City we want to live in.



It’s time to take a stand. We need every resident—whether you live on the islands or the mainland—to raise your voice against this unfair tax. Join us in telling the Redland City Council that we will not tolerate this double-dipping. Together, we can stop the Access Tax.

Let’s make it clear: Access to transport is a right, not a privilege.

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