General News
11 November, 2026
Rate gouging
THE region’s cattle producers are calling for an urgent state government review into local rating safeguards, claiming crippling general land rates are eating up nearly a third of their profits while council shields itself behind legal loopholes.
Data compiled by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) reveals local graziers pay roughly 30% of their gross profit – averaging $12,000 in general rates against a $35,000 gross margin – in general rates alone.
Cassowary Coast Graziers Association (CCGA) representative Jason Burzacott told The Observer the rate burden is threatening the viability of family grazing operations across the region.
“We can’t identify a single grazier that’s supporting their family from the income on the Cassowary Coast by grazing cattle alone,” Mr Burzacott said. “Everyone else has other income to make a go of it.”
The association points to stark industry disparities to highlight what it calls a “grossly inequitable” system.
According to industry data, banana farming generates 45 times more revenue per hectare than cattle grazing and produces roughly 60 times more harvested tonnage on local roads. Sugar cane generates two to four times more revenue per hectare and creates at least 17 times more road tonnage, with mill mud transport adding another 108,000-plus tonnes to rural roads.
By contrast, cattle grazing produces just 0.5 tonnes of stock per hectare transported by road. Despite the contrast in infrastructure impact and earning capacity, Cassowary Coast Regional Council (CCRC) charges cattle graziers the same rate in the dollar as intensive agricultural operations.
Peer coastal shires, such as Hinchinbrook, charge graziers between a third and a half of the rate applied to cane growers.
For four years, the CCGA has pressed council to table the quantitative data or formula used to deem the rate distribution fair.
“Every scrap of data, benchmarking and precedence points to a gross inequity. Not a single scrap of data has been tabled to the contrary,” Mr Burzacott said.
“They have given us not one scrap of an idea how they find our rates to be fair and equitable,” he said.
Legal advice sought by the association from a King’s Counsel described council’s claims of transparency and accountability as “egregious hypocrisy.”
The legal review also uncovered a broader governance gap. Local councils are not legally obligated to comply with their own internal revenue or compliance policies, even those mandated under Queensland’s local government regulation 2012.
While the Queensland Ombudsman acknowledged transparency concerns, it noted it lacked the statutory power to compel council to change its rating settings due to the “unfettered autonomy” granted to local government. In a statement to the newspaper, CCRC chief executive officer Andrew Graffen defended the council’s rating structure, emphasising that statutory land valuations set by the Queensland Valuer-General play a key role in calculating general rates.
“Comparing rates in the dollar between councils without considering the underlying valuations does not provide a meaningful comparison of the actual rates payable,” Mr Graffen said.
Mr Graffen noted council reduced the rate in the dollar across all primary production categories by 36.7% between 2024-25 and 2025-26 following significant land valuation increases.
“We have historically applied the same rate in the dollar across all primary production categories ... this provides a consistent and equitable approach to rating primary production land across the Cassowary Coast,” he said.
Mr Graffen added that general rates are not determined solely by road usage or business revenue and stated council remains open to further discussions with the CCGA.
The CCGA has submitted an open letter to Local Government Minister Ann Leahy, requesting a formal state review of legislative safeguards for minority rating categories and asking for a department representative to mediate a joint meeting with council.
The Observer sought comment from the minister and received a brief response: “I have asked my department to continue supporting both the graziers and council as they work through this complex rating issue,” Ms Leahy told the newspaper.
“Ultimately rating issues are a matter for council and they need to justify rating decisions to their residents,” she said.
Mr Burzacott said graziers were simply seeking a fair go.
“All we’re after is demonstrable equity. We just want to benchmark with our peers, just like every other rating category in the Cassowary Coast.”
Council says it has “engaged extensively with the Cassowary Coast Graziers Association” and Mr Graffen has not ruled out further discussions.
“We understand that the association has raised its concerns directly with the state government and are open to further discussions with the CCGA regarding the current rating structure and the methodology used to determine general rates for primary production properties, as we remain confident in our approach and committed to transparency and good governance.”
Read More: Cassowary Coast