What Australian newspapers say Monday, February 10, 2003=2

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What Australian newspapers say Monday, February 10, 2003=2

The alert from the Local Government Association that metropolitan council rates mayrise by 7 per cent in the next financial year is totally unsatisfactory, The Advertisersays.

"The investigation into councils' finances by KPMG Insurance and Advisory and the Instituteof Chartered Accountants provides the reasons - infrastructure costs are rising and thevalue of assets is falling," the newspaper says.

"The argument for amalgamation was one of efficiency, yet the result seems to havebeen entrenched inefficiency.

" ...the tax burden on Australians is again becoming a grindstone and here... is furtherdismal proof of the imposition. We are incompetent, therefore you pay."

AAP ag/rs

KEYWORD: EDITORIALS 2 SYDNEY