The Tax Take with Brian Keegan

Why the local property tax worked, but water charges won't.

A water meter is installed: uncertainty erodes the perception of fairness in water charges. Picture: Collins

One of the more striking aspects of the water charge saga is how much grief it has caused when compared with the local property tax (LPT).

Why should there be such a backlash against what is a charge for a service, while there is now a general acceptance of local property taxes? LPT, for now at least, has a compliance rate of well over 90 per cent. We’re a long way away from ...