Pensioners hit by rate-rise double whammy

Pensioners across Douglas Shire are concerned after learning via a council letter their rates discount will be reduced from 40 per cent to 30 per cent this coming financial year, and the maximum discount will be reduced by $350.

The DSC approved the change in the lead-up to last week’s release of the 2026 budget, but the reality hit home for many Shire pensioners when they realised how much more they would be paying in rates and charges this year when more details emerged this month.

The 10 per cent discount cut comes at the same time the council hikes Shire rates and charges by an average of 8.4 per cent for the coming financial year.

Newsport has been contacted by several upset older residents who say they are already struggling to make ends meet, while others have taken to social media to vent their frustrations.

The DSC letter sent to Shire pensioners leads off with this statement: “Council is committed to supporting eligible pensioner ratepayers and providing appropriate concessions where possible,” before then going on to outline further down the discount cuts.

Kerry DeLany posted on one local online page that the letter was “written in such a way to make us pensioners believe we should be thanking council for being so generous in their higher than average discount on the rates”.

“But really, in amongst that very wordy notice, is the fact that our pension discount will be reduced,” she wrote.

Further down in its letter, the council states: “For the 2025/2026 year, Douglas Shire Council offered the most generous General Rate pension remission in the State.”

This is because the maximum pensioner discount in Douglas Shire last year was $1350, while the next highest of any Queensland council was Brisbane with about $1200, the letter states.