By Alesha Capone
Wyndham council has provided a total of $201,000 in rates rebates to residents receiving JobKeeker payments, across a six month period.
The council last year voted to give residential ratepayers a $100 rebate, if they were in receipt of JobKeeper payments from the federal government.
The policy caused controversy when it was first suggested by former councillor Intaj Khan in August last year.
At the time, his fellow councillor Henry Barlow – who did not stand at the last municipal elections – described the idea as “irresponsible”.
Cr Heather Marcus also questioned why some residents, such as those receiving a JobSeeker payment, would not receive the rebate.
Despite this, the council approved Cr Khan’s suggestion after a majority of councillors voted for it.
At a council meeting last week, Cr Mia Shaw said it was “absolutely fantastic” to see that the council had granted local JobKeeker recipients rates rebates totalling $201,000 between June and December last year.
“I thought it was worthwhile highlighting, there was some rigorous debate about this last term, but it was so great to see 2151 applicants applied for the $100 rebate on their rates’ notices,” she said.
“A very worthwhile initiative in COVID … that has supported some of our residential ratepayers in a very difficult time.”
Cr Shaw said that the council had also granted a total of $401,000 in COVID pensioner rates rebates.
The council gave some pensioners a $50 COVID rates rebate, on top of the state government’s existing rebate, between June and December last year.
