Update: Hearing in the Queensland Supreme Court
On 24 February 2025, His Honour Justice Bradley made a number of orders including the following:
that a Group Member Notice be distributed to all ratepayers, outlining the outcome of the proceeding, the proposed Court-approved deductions to be sought by Shine Lawyers and Augusta Ventures Limited (as the litigation funder), and the final distribution amount payable to ratepayers; and
that a further hearing be scheduled for 30 April 2025.
The Group Member Notice has been distributed to all ratepayers who have registered as group members in this proceeding and have not opted out. Any ratepayer wishing to object to the proposed deductions, must submit a formal objection to Shine Lawyers by 4:00 PM on 4 April 2025. If required, they may also seek leave to appear at the Court hearing.
Objections may be submitted to Redlands.rates@shine.com.au or PO Box 12011, George Street, Brisbane QLD 4003.
What is the Redland Ratepayer Class Action about?
Redland City Council (the Council) advised in March 2017 that the canal maintenance levy it imposed on ratepayers in Redland was potentially contrary to the requirements of the Local Government Act.
While the Council has refunded part of the moneys raised, Shine Lawyers have commenced proceedings on behalf of ratepayers to recover the remaining amount. Shine Lawyers consider that the Council is liable to ratepayers for the balance of moneys raised.
The proceedings are being funded by Augusta Ventures Limited.
If you would like to discuss the class action with a member of our team, please direct your enquiries to redlands.rates@shine.com.au.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a class action?
What is a class action?
When Governments, large companies or institutions do the wrong thing and people are harmed or suffer loss as a result, an individual can have little to no means of bringing a legal claim.
Class actions are an important mechanism within Australia’s legal system that allow large groups of people to come together to pursue a claim collectively.
For a class action to take place, there are three criteria that need to be met:
there must be 7 or more people that have claims against the same defendant; and
the claims relate to the same or similar circumstances; and
the claim must relate to at least one common issue of law or fact.
For more information about how class actions resolve, click here.
How long do class actions take to resolve?
How long do class actions take to resolve?
It can take up to several years for a class action to resolve. The time taken from case commencement through to resolution and settlement administration depends on the particular case, and the nature of the claim.
For more information about class actions and how they work, click here.
Does it cost anything to join a class action?
Does it cost anything to join a class action?
Shine Lawyers is committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background or financial situation, has access to justice. We run our class actions in a way that means you are not exposed to any costs or financial risk, so joining a class action will cost you nothing.
When a class action is successful, the legal fees and costs to run the class action are deducted from the settlement amount that is approved by the Court. If the class action is unsuccessful, we will ensure there are no out-of-pocket costs to you.
Will my contact details be kept private?
Will my contact details be kept private?
Yes, your contact details will remain confidential and we will seek your consent before disclosing any of your personal information (including before such disclosure is required by the Court).
Shine Lawyers will only use your personal information strictly for the purpose of the legal proceedings.
Meet the Redland Ratepayer Class Action team
Shine Lawyers’ Redland Ratepayer Class Action team includes some of the firm’s most experienced litigators, solicitors and support staff. You can learn more about the team running this class action by clicking on their profile below.
Why Choose Shine Lawyers?
In successful settlements and judgments
We have secured more than $1 billion in class action settlements and judgments for our group members.
years of collective experience
Our team includes the country’s most experienced class actions experts and litigators with the skill, industry insight and dedication to deliver the best possible outcomes for deserving Australians.
dedicated class actions team members
We are proudly one of the largest class actions teams in the country. Our senior practitioners are supported by a dedicated team devoted to the complex field of class actions.
