Latest news with #QueenslandGovernment
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Huge Native Title problem that's costing Aussies big as state deals with almost 40 claims - and one has lasted more than two decades
Queensland councils have desperately called on the government to provide financial support as they burn through ratepayers' money dealing with Native Title claims. Councils in the state are currently responding to 38 Native Title claims, with one contest for sea territory in the Torres Strait now running for 24 years. Redland City Council is at the forefront of calls for external funding after spending eight years responding to a Native Title claim over much of its coastline. While Native Titles don't affect freehold property - including residential houses and businesses - the council expressed confusion about the future of its properties. About 3,500 properties owned or managed by Redland City Council have been included in the Quandamooka Coast claim area. The Queensland Government assessed 1,300 of those properties and found 80 could be subject to the title claim, including an animal shelter and cemetery. However, the council has been lumped with the task of processing its remaining properties through the Federal Court to determine if they are eligible for Native Title claim. Typically, exclusion is given when public works - like roads, playgrounds, shelters - were built before December 23, 1996. Redland City Council did not own some of the contested properties before that date but has built parks, recreation areas, and infrastructure on them. The ongoing debate over the properties has already cost the council $2million and its legal bill will continue to grow with a four-week hearing scheduled in September. The council unsuccessfully asked the extended assessment be covered by the Queensland Government, noting 'having clarity over the history of the lots of land will ensure there are no legacy issues down the track'. Senator Pauline Hanson earlier this month called for the state government to take the pressure off small councils being hit with Native Title claim bills. 'While the claimants have their legal costs fully funded by the National Indigenous Australians Agency, Queensland councils had their support taken away long ago,' Hanson said. 'Queensland councils were acknowledged as among the best in responding to Native Title claims until Labor changed the Native Title Respondent Funding Scheme in 2013 and effectively put the cost burden on local ratepayers. 'The Albanese government has since abolished the scheme altogether. 'It's a burden that few, if any, regional Queensland councils can bear.' The Senator echoed the sentiment of councils around the state, saying the Native Title claims 'are often very complex and can take years to resolve, resulting in huge legal costs for respondents'. The Quandamooka Coast claim area includes a small part of Brisbane City, most of mainland Redlands and areas of Lamb Island, Macleay Island, Karragarra Island, Coochiemudlo Island, Cassim Island, Sandy Island, Tindappah Island, Green Island, King Island, St Helena Island and Mud Island. It is being overseen by the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation, which in 2011 was granted Native Title over nearby North Stradbroke Island. Local Government Association of Queensland chief executive officer Alison Smith told the Courier Mail she supported calls for funding to be reinstated. 'Local governments are automatically joined as respondents when a Native Title claim affecting the local government area is lodged in the Federal Court,' she said. 'It is critical that the Commonwealth reinstates the Financial Assistance Scheme so local governments are able to access funding to participate in the claim process.' Local Government Minister Ann Leahy wouldn't comment on funding for Native Title claims, instead pointing to decreased 'red tape'. 'While Labor walked away from supporting councils for a decade, the Crisafulli government is helping reduce red tape and costs to ensure they can deliver for their communities,' she said.
Sydney Morning Herald
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Axed Brisbane Olympics board member says ‘nothing replaces' Indigenous representation
Dumped Brisbane 2032 Olympic Organising Committee board member Shelley Reys has rejected an invitation to join a newly formed First Nations advisory group, saying it was an insufficient alternative to having no Indigenous representation on the board. 'I have declined the invitation to be involved in the First Nations advisory body,' Reys said. 'Now that First Nations representation has been removed from the board, the creation of an advisory body is a good alternative, but nothing replaces the role and powers of a board member, that being to ensure lived, professional and informed experience to the decision-making table.' The requirement that at least one member of the organising board be an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person was removed from the legislation that governs the Brisbane 2032 Olympics in amendments passed into law last month. In an effort to 'streamline' decision-making, the requirements of Indigenous representation and that women make up at least 50 per cent of members were scrapped, and the total number of members was reduced from 24 to 15. There are six men and nine women on the new board. Former world No.1 golfer and now businessman Greg Norman has been renominated to the board after losing his seat when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's picks were reduced from four members to one, and he selected Federal Minister for Sport Anika Wells over Norman. In a document obtained by this masthead through a Freedom of Information request, the federal government had set June 30 as the deadline to ask the Queensland Government for extra nominations, citing the importance of having a 'strong voice on the Board to guide decision making'. Though they did not receive additional nominations, two of their original four representatives, Norman and Gold Coast Titans co-owner and businesswoman Rebecca Frizelle, have been re-nominated by Queensland Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander as 'independent directors'. Mander was once an NRL referee.
The Age
21-07-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Axed Brisbane Olympics board member says ‘nothing replaces' Indigenous representation
Dumped Brisbane 2032 Olympic Organising Committee board member Shelley Reys has rejected an invitation to join a newly formed First Nations advisory group, saying it was an insufficient alternative to having no Indigenous representation on the board. 'I have declined the invitation to be involved in the First Nations advisory body,' Reys said. 'Now that First Nations representation has been removed from the board, the creation of an advisory body is a good alternative, but nothing replaces the role and powers of a board member, that being to ensure lived, professional and informed experience to the decision-making table.' The requirement that at least one member of the organising board be an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person was removed from the legislation that governs the Brisbane 2032 Olympics in amendments passed into law last month. In an effort to 'streamline' decision-making, the requirements of Indigenous representation and that women make up at least 50 per cent of members were scrapped, and the total number of members was reduced from 24 to 15. There are six men and nine women on the new board. Former world No.1 golfer and now businessman Greg Norman has been renominated to the board after losing his seat when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's picks were reduced from four members to one, and he selected Federal Minister for Sport Anika Wells over Norman. In a document obtained by this masthead through a Freedom of Information request, the federal government had set June 30 as the deadline to ask the Queensland Government for extra nominations, citing the importance of having a 'strong voice on the Board to guide decision making'. Though they did not receive additional nominations, two of their original four representatives, Norman and Gold Coast Titans co-owner and businesswoman Rebecca Frizelle, have been re-nominated by Queensland Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander as 'independent directors'. Mander was once an NRL referee.
The Guardian
19-07-2025
- The Guardian
Is this Queensland beach really the best in the world? Tell us your favourite
A Queensland beach where swimmers need to wear stinger suits for eight months of the year has been voted the best in the world for 2025. Whitehaven Beach, on Whitsunday Island, is home to marine stingers, including jellyfish, from October to May when the water temperatures are warmer, making the use of stinger suits highly advisable. This month, global travel site Big 7 Travel revealed Whitehaven had topped its annual list of the 50 best beaches in the world, beating Anse Source d'Argent in Seychelles and Ksamil Beach in Albania to first place. Now in its seventh year, the list is based on 'past media results', 'social media buzz', and insights from the editorial team. Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning The Queensland 7km stretch of beach, which is renowned for its pure-white silica sands and turquoise waters, is described by the Queensland government as 'one of the world's greatest natural treasures'. 'With its unique white-silica sands, brilliant aquamarine waters, secluded beach camp sites and incredible walking tracks, this world-famous beach will steal your heart,' the state government boasts. According to a Whitsundays tourism marketer, Nathan Johnston, box jellyfish and Irukandji are the harmful stingers in the Whitsundays. But the chances of being stung are low, espeically, if you are wearing a stinger suit and carrying vinegar with you to treat stings. 'As an old skipper once told me … 'Stinger suits are like wearing a seatbelt in a car: the chance is low you will need it, but if needed, it will save your life',' Johnston says. Sign up to Saved for Later Catch up on the fun stuff with Guardian Australia's culture and lifestyle rundown of pop culture, trends and tips after newsletter promotion But can a beach where you need to don a suit before swimming really be the best in the world? Guardian Australia wants to hear from our readers. What is your favourite beach in the world, and why? To kick us off, I will share my own: Bull Pup Beach on the south coast of New South Wales. It's only accessible via a walking track, which means you can often have the tiny sparkling clean beach all to yourself.
ABC News
15-07-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Queensland to profit $2b from insurance premiums tax David Crisafulli previously called 'robbing people'
The Queensland government is on track to pocket more than $2 billion a year from taxes on insurance products amid ongoing premium price rises. The latest budget figures reveal the state is set to reap $1.78 billion from insurance duty in 2025-26 — which is about $120 million more than the year before. The government charges a flat rate of 9 per cent duty on the premium paid for general insurance products, such as car, home, and contents insurance. It means as insurance premiums grow, so too does the government's revenue from the duty. By 2028-29, the government expects annual revenue from the tax will hit $2.14 billion, which reflects a 19.7 per cent increase over the next four years. The revenue raised from insurance duty is more than what the state makes from gaming machines taxes, the waste levy, or fines and forfeitures. The budget papers indicate the revenue from insurance duty this financial year reflects the growth in premiums. Insurance Council of Australia chief executive Andrew Hall described insurance duty as a "lazy" tax that punished people doing the "right thing" by taking out insurance. He said his organisation wanted the tax removed, and, if it wasn't, for more of the duty revenue to go to targeted programs that strengthened Queensland homes. "We know the Queensland government has a goal to reduce the taxation burden in Queensland and out of date taxes like insurance stamp duties would be a great place to start," he said. "At the moment during a cost-of-living crisis, the removal of any taxes off insurance premiums would be passed straight through to the consumer and would help enormously with insurance affordability." Mr Hall suggested the industry would be willing to work with the state government to establish a price monitor to ensure savings were passed on if the duty was abolished. "Stamp duty is obviously a very valuable revenue source for state governments," he said. Queensland Treasurer David Janetzki would not say if the government would abolish duties or taxes on insurance or lower the rate of duties. A spokesperson for Mr Janetzki said the government was investing in mitigation and resilience measures to put downward pressure on insurance premiums. "There are no new or increased taxes in the budget as we are delivering a stable regulatory and taxation environment after a decade of broken tax promises from the former Labor government," they said. The government has pointed out that the recent budget included $450 million over the next five years for the Queensland Resilience and Risk Reduction Program. It also noted Queensland's duty rate of 9 per cent makes it the equal lowest standard rate across all jurisdictions in Australia. The Australian Capital Territory is the only state or territory without stamp duty on insurance. The duty rate charged on general insurance varies from state to state, but it ranges between 9 and 11 per cent. In 2020, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission released a report recommending the Queensland, Western Australia, and Northern Territory governments abolish stamp duty on home, contents, and strata insurance. Commenting on the report in 2021, Premier David Crisafulli, who was then opposition leader, called on the then-government to address the issues outlined in the report. "Stop robbing people blind on the taxes that are charged on insurance. Stop failing to build things to protect people," he said. "And stop allowing the insurance companies to go about their merry way without holding their feet to the fire. There are three things that the state can lead." Mr Crisafulli also said: "It's up to our leaders to find the best tax system so that insurance isn't a milking cow for government."
