The survey reveals hundreds of people will be severely impacted – and in some instances forced “to live under the poverty line” – by Cairns Council’s proposal to hike rates by up to 800 per cent.
In written submissions, residents said they may be forced to cancel private cancer treatment, sell their car – sacrificing independence – or resort to eating Vegemite sandwiches for dinner just to get by.
“Just ignore Christmas, Easter, birthdays and anniversaries and wait to drop off the perch. I’ll raise my glass and toast the councillors with a glass of water instead of a wine and wish you well,” one person said in the survey.