Written by Bill Wight secretary of Coochiemudlo Island Business Association The Access Tax is collected in ferry fares The Coochiemudlo Island Business Association (CIBA) is outraged to uncover the shocking reality that Redland City Council is imposing what amounts to an Access Tax on residents living on Moreton Bay Islands. This hidden levy, buried within ferry fare collections, is unfairly targeting island communities like ours, and it’s time we take a stand. Russell Jackson, president of CIBA, expressed his disbelief, stating, "Every house on Coochiemudlo Island is paying around $500 annually just for the privilege of accessing their homes. This Access Tax is on top of already exorbitant council rates—the highest in Southeast Queensland—making this burden even more unbearable. Residents on the Southern Moreton Bay Islands, such as Russell and MacLeay, face an Access Tax of $150 per household." Mr. Jackson pointed out the stark injustice, explaining, “Island residents are b