Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to note a South Australian council has decided to back the 'yes' campaign with ratepayers' money and to note the enormous backlash from ratepayers that has resulted. I refer to the Mitcham city council's decision to allocate $40,000 to the 'yes' campaign, primarily for a major public information event targeting undecided voters. Adelaide talkback radio has been full of outrage at the move this week. This is the same council which is lifting its rates by 8.9 per cent this year in the middle of a national cost-of-living crisis. Maybe if this council stuck to its knitting—roads, rates and rubbish—instead of meddling in federal affairs, rate rises could be better contained.

I want to commend a councillor at the City of Victor Harbor in South Australia for bringing this matter to my attention. One Nation's Carlos Quaremba has made quite a name for himself as a new councillor, and I congratulate him on standing up for ratepayers. I also congratulate him for his intention to move that his council not provide support to either side of the referendum debate. He knows what all Australian councils should know: campaigning for any vote in a national referendum is not what ratepayers' money is for. Labor has already provided more than $400 million for this referendum, and, despite its failures to date, the 'yes' camp is flush with donated funds, high-profile support and the backing of the Australian government.

Ratepayers everywhere should be going to council meetings and calling their councillors to make sure no other local government tries to get away with this. As ratepayers, go and have your voices heard. Go to the meetings. Tell them that your money is better spent in paying down their debt or fixing up the problems in their own electorates and not with the 'yes' or 'no' campaigns. (Time expired)