At Port Stephens Council meeting held on 9 October 2018 Mayor PALMER & Councillors Smith, Dunkley, Nell, TUCKER , LeMottee voted to support a rate increase of 52.5% ( 7.5% a year for 7 years) against the wishes of the SILENT MAJORITY of Port Stephens RATEPAYERS- the COUNCIL have shown SCANT regard for COMMUNITY they purportedly represent - some admitting to have not "prepared for debate" or read many submissions submitted by RATEPAYERS. The previous 2 Councils had kept RATES at parity with the Consumer Price Index for 9 years - showing no need for a rate rise ABOVE the CPI.

This MAYOR and his Councillors need to rescind this motion immediately and accept the position of the SILENT MAJORITY of Port Stephens residents, keeping RATES at CPI level.