Elderly residents of Cairns retirement villages are voicing their outrage after a proposed council rate increase and accusations of social media surveillance targeted at older residents. The controversy has ignited a fierce debate about respect, privacy, and the rights of seniors.
The Cairns Regional Council’s plan to introduce a minimum general rate of approximately $1,072 per unit from the upcoming financial year has alarmed residents. Currently, the council applies a single charge to entire villages, but the new proposal would see each individual unit billed separately, leading to an estimated 800 percent rate hike. Retirement village operators warn this increase would be passed directly onto residents, many of whom are on fixed incomes and rely on the services their villages provide.
Judy Holtzheimer, a resident and vocal opponent of the proposal, expressed her shock at the mayor’s recent comments. “I was absolutely stunned that someone in her position would, I would say in my words, stoop to spying on elderly people,” she said, referring to claims that the mayor used social media to monitor residents’ activities.
Another resident, Kay Nyland, claimed she fears she might be among those scrutinized. “Because I’ve been very prominent on social media about this issue, I worry I’m one of the people she’s looked into,” she said.
The sector’s leaders also voiced concern. Christine Gilroy, CEO of Oak Tree Retirement Villages, said existing residents already shoulder costs for essential services like roads, lighting, and gardens. “It would be a double hit to residents to pay for these things again,” she said.
The Retirement Living Council’s executive director, Daniel Gannon, called for the council to delay the rate hike by at least a year to ensure proper consultation. “The community deserves genuine and proper engagement before such significant changes are made,” he emphasized.
As residents rally against the proposed increase, the controversy highlights a broader debate over how best to balance fiscal responsibility with respect for the dignity and privacy of Australia’s aging population.
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