23 September 2004

ARC Confirms No Legal Action Against Ratepayer Protestors Until After Election.

The ARC Director of Operations, Tony Darby, confirmed to me today that the ARC will take no legal action against ratepayers with outstanding balances until after the October 9th elections.

He also told me that the incoming council would need to take the decision as to whether or not to start legal proceedings - but said his view was that the new council would have no option but to commence recovery action.

ARC member Ian Bradley said everyone had paid last year and 'there never was a rates revolution'!!!

Meanwhile we have received dozens of calls from protesting ratepayers who are still refusing to pay their rates or penalties.

As recently as August it was revealed that 16,000 penalty letters had been sent out.

A financial report to today's ARC Finance Committee suggests that more than $4 million is still outstanding from last year's rate take, which we believe shows several thousand rates rebels are still holding out.

The 'RatesRebellion - Fresh Start' team is committed to halting all legal action and, if legally possible, remit all penalties, which we believe have not been levied equitably and may have been levied illegally.

When the Rates Rebellion team and its allies take control of the new ARC we will open the records on last years rating fiasco - including legal advice which has so far not been released for public scrutiny.

ENDS

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