Latest News
B.A.R.E. does the sums on savings to ratepayers
20 August 2009
Brisbane ratepayers in CTS properties have saved almost $10 million in general rates increases thanks to the efforts of B.A.R.E. and those who put the spotlight on the Council's misjudged proposed rates hikes. The BCC was forced to re-examine their calculations after general rates increases of up to a thousand percent were exposed last year.
B.A.R.E. has calculated the savings for 44 CTS properties. Click here to view the report.
It's fair to say that if the Council had considered the issue more thoroughly before announcing the increases in the 2008/09 budget, thousands of hours and tens of thousands of dollars of ratepayers' time and money would have been saved. That is why B.A.R.E. is now pressing for the formation of a committee, which would include ratepayer representatives, to investigate the implications of any future rates increases before decisions and announcements are made. B.A.R.E. commits to monitor Council decisions on rates so that a similar debacle is not allowed to happen again.
Open letter to Bodies Corporate
20 August 2009
Click here to view details of how B.A.R.E. will continue to work in the interests of CTS properties throughout Brisbane.
Council wins right to increase rates at whim
28 May 2009
Supreme Court Judge, the Honourable James Douglas, has given the Council the go-ahead to increase general rates on units across Brisbane, some by up to several hundred percent. B.A.R.E. had taken the Council to the Supreme Court arguing the BCC's decision to introduce a 'parity factor' on units' rates was illegal. However, Justice Jim Douglas today dismissed the application, effectively giving the Council the power to increase rates on units, houses and businesses as they wish.
Justice Douglas's decision is at odds with an opinion provided by the Solicitor-General's last September (story below).
B.A.R.E. has expressed disappointment and is taking legal advice on available options to continue to fight for a return to an equitable rating system for all Brisbane ratepayers.
- B.A.R.E.'s response.
- Link to judgement via Supreme Court Library.
- PDF of judgement.
Lord Mayor fails to heed Solicitor-General's warning that 'parity factor' may be illegal
17 March 2009
Grave concerns are being expressed over the Council's decision to forge ahead with the introduction of its 'parity factor' rates increases in 2009 despite a warning by Queensland's top legal officer that the formula is likely to be illegal. In a report dated 22 Septmber 2008, Solicitor-General Walter Sofronoff, QC, said, "My view is that a court would probably conclude that the resolution is invalid". The finding was not made public until The Courier-Mail obtained a copy of the report in March 2009, adding to claims of Council secrecy over matters relating to the 'parity factor'. Full story ...
A further test of the legality of the increases has been made in the Supreme Court, with a decision expected in late March.
B.A.R.E. represents 5000+ unit owners
6 April 2009
B.A.R.E. now represents more than 5000 unit owners in 57 buildings. Along with individual memberships, the Bodies Corporate of many of Brisbane's major Community Title Scheme properties have aligned with B.A.R.E. to oppose the iniquitous and unjust increases resulting from the Lord mayor's 'parity factor'. Contact B.A.R.E. if you would like your Body Corporate to join the fight for the resumption of an equitable rating system for all Brisbane property owners. Full list of buildings ...
Council officials fail to understand their own rating system
5 March and 18 April 2009
Correspondence signed by the BCC's highly paid CEO fails to understand the difference between 'parent' and 'principal' schemes in Layered CTS properties. Ms Munro's letter of 25 February and Dr Foth's response of 2 March are part of a series of correspondence. Further correspondence in April, signed by the Lord Mayor, also displays either ignorance of these terms or a desire to ignore the legitimate arguments of ratepayers in Layered Schemes. All correspondence can be viewed on the Real Stories page of this website.
Supreme Court challenge to 'parity factor'
25 February 2009
The benchmark legal challenge against the Council "Parity Factor" (which discriminates against Brisbane CTS property owners by manipulating unimproved land values at the whim of Council) was brought to a head in the Supreme Court of Queensland on Wednesday 25 February with the hearing of an action brought by Paul Cassels and Darryl Penfold, President and Vice-President of BARE, ("the Applicants") of behalf of the members of Brisbane Association for Rates Equity Inc. Full report ...
Body Corporate Membership of B.A.R.E. expands
16 February 2009
Bodies Corporate of some of Brisbane's major unit buildings are joining B.A.R.E. and expanding the war chest needed to fight the Lord Mayor's iniquitous rates increases. Ten complexes are now Corporate Members and another five will be considering motions at upcoming body corporate meetings. They realise these exorbitant rates increases will make units uncompetitive against freestanding houses for both owner occupiers and investors. Together, they have contributed more than $41,000 and this is in addition to individual memberships from unit owners in over 40 CTS properties. Find out how to put a motion for membership to B.A.R.E. to your body corporate.
Click on the Resources page for other major stories
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