General News
10 June, 2025
‘Nothing but a cash grab’
A SURVEY of almost 300 retirement village residents to be hit by Cairns Regional Council’s proposed rates changes has providing alarming feedback.
The Retirement Living Council (RLC) survey reveals hundreds of people will be severely impacted – and in some instances forced “to live under the poverty line” – by the proposal to hike rates by up to 800 per cent.
Undertaken between April 14 and May 2, the survey was completed by 265 residents from six retirement villages in Cairns with more than 175 respondents providing written – and heartbreaking – feedback.
Most of the residents are pensioners with more than a third (34 per cent) saying they would struggle to cover essentials under the proposed rates change, while 16 per cent said they could not afford the increase at all.
While 43 per cent said they would need to cut back on non-essentials, just seven per cent said the increase could be accommodated.
Most respondents do not receive government-funded support and a staggering 21 per cent already struggle to meet regular expenses while two per cent cannot meet current expenses.
To pay increased council rates, respondents indicated they would start by cutting back on groceries and food, followed by transport, power and water bills, scaling back medical visits and reducing prescriptions.
RLC executive director Daniel Gannon said the regional council “must put its hand up, acknowledge it’s got this one wrong and abandon its cruel cash grab on vulnerable Queenslanders”.
“This proposal is having such a significant impact on residents that many can’t eat or sleep because of the stress and anxiety they’re experiencing,” he said.
“Sadly, some people believe they could become homeless, while others will cancel private cancer treatment, cut back on food, sell their cars or turn off the airconditioner just to pay for the increase.
“This proposal from council is truly awful and totally unjustifiable.”
Calls by Cairns deputy mayor Brett Olds for the wealthy operators of seven retirement villages in Cairns to pay proposed rate increases has been rejected by the (RLC).
Cr Olds has also accused the RLC of “weaponising” the stories and experiences of retirees to avoid paying higher rates themselves.
Mr Gannon said retirement village costs to run and maintain these communities were shared by residents, including rate increases.
He said the council did not understand the different communities within their region or consider the impact of their decisions on vulnerable members of their community.
“All rates, including rate increases, are shared by residents and is specifically enshrined in legislation. For the council to infer these stories are ‘weaponised’ speaks volumes to their motivation of self-interest and lack of care and respect for the elderly Australians within their communities.”
A second protest by pensioners is on Wednesday next week at the regional council from 8am.
