Pensioners in the City of Sydney currently receive full rebates on their council rates. This scheme is funded by the federal government, however the recent federal budget included a $750,000 shortfall on the funding needed to continue these rebates.

Liberal Councillor Edward Mandla said he did not think sustaining full rebates for pensioners should be a priority for the City of Sydney.

“Our rates are the lowest in the state and pensioners can still get rate relief which is really unusual,” he said.

“The number of people who are aged 65 and over in the City of Sydney area is about 5.2%, or two thousand five hundred households. We are talking about a very small number.”