We’ve all heard the mantra, “Think Global – Act Local,” and it’s in our shire where this principle truly comes to life. This is where our daily lives are shaped, where our community thrives, and where our local quality of life is determined.
A well-run shire has the potential to be a place where people can truly excel. Good leadership can unlock our community’s potential and help us achieve greater things. However, a well-run shire doesn’t happen by accident or through mere goodwill. Long political standing, familiar names, or party affiliations do not guarantee effective leadership. It happens by selecting the best people for the job—one candidate at a time.
The next four years will be crucial for QPRC and its impact on our lifestyle and wellbeing. During the special rate rise application, the Council claimed severe financial distress, stating it was highly indebted and unable to maintain service levels without drastic increases in rates. They initially sought a 97% rate rise to merely maintain the status quo but settled on a 64% increase, which involved reducing services.
This situation is neither acceptable nor sustainable, especially when many residents are already struggling with rising costs of living — accommodation, food, transportation, education, healthcare, and more. While the law says ratepayers must pay rates or council can sell their accommodation from under them, there is no law mandating they must eat or keep up with basic needs; that’s not their problem!
It’s unrealistic to expect the same Councillors, who approved the 64% rate rise and the costly debt-inducing projects, to fix the financial mess they created. Party affiliations won’t change this reality. Addressing debt reduction, infrastructure needs, and effective service delivery in these inflationary times requires clear thinking, the absence of subordinated undertakings, courage to successfully challenge ‘the bosses’, and skilled negotiation, planning, and execution.
At this election, we need more than single-issue candidates or those who claim to have “good listening skills”. We need to choose the best 11 individuals available for the roles — Councillors who can stand as equals with State and Federal counterparts; who are positive, forward-thinking, and transparent; and who won’t hide behind endless “visioning” and “consultation” to avoid real action.
Councillors who chase personal ambitions, hoping to rise from local politics to State or Federal positions, often prioritise their own agendas over residents’ needs. This mercenary mindset explains many of the puzzling and resident-unfriendly decisions made by councils. There’s a saying in technology: if you’re not paying for the app, you’re the product. In an LGA, if your costs are rising and your services are declining, you’re getting played*.
On September 14th, I urge you to carefully consider each candidate’s skills, achievements, and outlook. Choose those who will contribute to the competent and effective council you deserve.
* The saying “someone is being played,” means that the person is being manipulated or deceived, often without their knowledge. The term implies that another person is taking advantage of them, using them for their own benefit, or leading them to believe something that isn’t true.