Stop the Access Tax

Written by Bill Wight, Secretary CIBA Council’s Ferry Fees: An Unjust Burden on Coochiemudlo Island Residents In the peaceful enclave of Coochiemudlo Island, a community of about 850 residents, an unjust financial burden looms large. Every year, each household is hit with a $500 fee by the Redland City Council—more than three times the $150 paid by their neighbors in the Southern Moreton Bay Islands (SMBI). This staggering disparity in ferry landing fees is not just an economic strain; it’s a glaring example of council-imposed discrimination that threatens the fabric of this small, close-knit community. An Unfair Playing Field The Council’s defense of these fees hinges on the claim that they’ve created a “level playing field” by charging $9.50 per ferry touchdown, aimed at equally funding the island jetty terminals. However, when one group is forced to pay three times what others do, it’s clear this playing field is anything but level. For Coochiemudlo Island, this means paying signifi...

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 th...

Written by Russell Jackson CIBA President 18 August 2024 Are You Aware You’re Being Exploited? Moreton Bay Island residents, it’s time to wake up and face the shocking reality: you are being exploited by the very council that is supposed to serve you. While your mainland neighbours go about their lives without any extra costs, you are being quietly squeezed for hundreds of dollars every year just to access your own home.  The Unfair Reality of the Access Tax Russell Jackson, president of the Coochiemudlo Island Business Association, has revealed a scandalous truth that has gone unnoticed by most residents: every household on Coochiemudlo Island is paying around $500 per year as an Access Tax—just for the right to return to their homes. This tax is on top of the council rates, which are already the highest in Southeast Queensland before this extra burden is added. And it’s not just Coochiemudlo Island; residents of the Southern Moreton Bay Islands like Russell and Macleay are also b...