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Councillor calls for rates halt As petrol and grocery prices continue to rise and mortgage-interest rates show no sign of falling, Fairfield councillor Thang Ngo has called on the council to review ways it can ease the burden on residents. Cr Ngo suggested waiving the 10 penalty interest on outstanding rates payments, deferring July's rates payments for three to six months and reducing the rates from July 1. "The new Federal Labor Government has promised to 'end the blame game' and usher in a new co-operative approach between the states and Commonwealth," he said. "Fairfield, as a local government that is also Labor controlled, should also use this opportunity to deliver tangible outcomes for our residents." Cr Ngo said these measures would have to be carried out in an economically responsible way and that they should only be carried out if the council could secure federal or state grants to make up the shortfall. He also proposed that the council increase awareness among residents of the financial services available to them and begin long term consultation with other tiers of government to develop other forms of support for residents. |