Georges River Council rejects voluntary pensioner rates rebate

A move to reinstate Georges River Council's voluntary pension rebate has been defeated.

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The former Hurstville Council had a voluntary pension rebate of $75 on top of the state government's statutory $250 rebate.

This was expanded to include Kogarah Council following amalgamation. In 2019 the voluntary pension rebate was doubled to $150. In 2020 it was cancelled by Georges River Council.

Cr Thomas Gao submitted a notice of motion at the April 28 council meeting for the pensioner rebate to be reinstated for eligible ratepayers from the start of the 2026-27 Financial Year.

This would acknowledge the significant and rising cost of living pressures facing pensioners across the Georges River LGA, many who live on fixed incomes, he said.

"This is not a new or radical idea," Cr Gao said. "This is something that the council has previously provided over many years. This motion simply calls for that practical support to be reinstated amidst a cost-of-living crisis.

"This is completely separate from the statutory pensioner rebate funded predominantly by the state government. That rebate is capped at $250 a year and has not changed since 1993. It has not been indexed. It has not kept up with the rising cost of living, grocery prices, petrol, electricity and obviously the rising cost of council rates.

"This is just not about providing a bit more financial relief for people in our community doing it the absolutely most tough. It is about showing a bit of respect to our senior citizens. They have worked their entire lives, paid their taxes, paid their rates, raised families, volunteered in local community groups and local church groups. They have built the community we represent," he said.

Cr Christina Jamieson submitted an amendment asking that instead, the council write to Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig seeking a review of the adequacy of the statutory pensioner rebate.

This would include consideration of the rebate's indexation in line with CPI or an increase to a percentage-based rebate model, consistent with other states.

"People across our community are doing it tough right now," she said,

"Cost-of-living pressures are being felt everywhere. No group feels this more acutely

than older Australians, many of whom are living on fixed incomes.

"The council already funds a pensioner rebate. Under the Local Government Act, the council is required to fund a pensioner rebate. The value and structure of this rebate are prescribed by the legislation; it is not discretionary and cannot be altered by council resolution.

"Eligible pensioners can currently receive up to $250 per year. This is a jointly funded scheme, with 55 per cent funded by the NSW Government and 45 per cent funded by councils. The council's share is funded from general revenue, and in the 2026-27 financial year is forecast to cost ratepayers approximately $800,000.

"The real issue that needs to be addressed is that the Statelegislated pensioner rebate has not been reviewed or increased since it was introduced in 1993.

"New South Wales differs from some jurisdictions because its pensioner council-rate rebate is set as a capped amount that has not been regularly indexed to inflation, so its real value can decline over time as council rates rise.

"Other states address this in different ways, either by periodically increasing rebate caps through policy decisions or by linking rebates to a percentage of rates, which can better reflect rising costs.

"Any attempt to force councils to reintroduce or expand voluntary pensioner rebates, without legislative reform and equitable cofunding from the NSW Government, is simply another

example of costshifting. The State and Federal Governments already shift costs equivalent to around $500 per ratepayer per year onto councils."

Cr Kathryn Lansberry supported Cr Jamieson, saying at the time it was cancelled the voluntary pensioner rebate was costing the council $1.2 million a year.

"To try and introduce it now, the council report says, it might go to $1.8 million. That's money that's got to come from somewhere

"This amendment puts the onus back on the state government. The pensioner rebate has not been increased since 1993. It was probably cost-effective in 1993 for a pensioner but these days it doesn't go very far at all.

"If the state government was serious about it, they would increase it," she said.

In reply, Cr Gao said it was about righting a wrong from the past.

"We used to have a voluntary pension rebate. In a cost-of-living crisis we should bring it back," he said.

But councillors voted in support of Cr Jamieson's amendment by nine votes to four, meaning Cr Gao's notice of motion to reinstate the voluntary pensioner rebate was defeated.