Rotovia-
18-10-2005, 05:38
Prince falls on sword in council battle
Tuesday Oct 18 08:18 AEST
A self-styled Queensland royal who refused to pay his council rates has fallen on his sword and paid up.
Four years ago Trevor and Diane Acworth, who own Acworth's Country Retreat - a bed-and-breakfast business with a tennis court, golf driving range and large pool - seceded from Australia.
They claimed their 11-hectare property at Ripley, south-west of Brisbane, was not governed by the Ipswich City Council and they were not subject to council rates.
But after four years of a battle royal with council, Mr Acworth - the Sovereign of the Principality of Acworth - paid the $13,964 in arrears to avoid his property being sold at public auction.
Mr Acworth - who claimed through his own self-appointed Supreme Court that the council's rates notices were illegal - refused to comment.
Ipswich Councillor Paul Tully said the "phantom kingdom" was being subsidised by council ratepayers.
He congratulated the principality for recognising the laws of Queensland and Australia.
"Commonsense had prevailed after four years of legal prevarication," Mr Tully said.
©AAP 2005
Original Article (http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=67574)
Tuesday Oct 18 08:18 AEST
A self-styled Queensland royal who refused to pay his council rates has fallen on his sword and paid up.
Four years ago Trevor and Diane Acworth, who own Acworth's Country Retreat - a bed-and-breakfast business with a tennis court, golf driving range and large pool - seceded from Australia.
They claimed their 11-hectare property at Ripley, south-west of Brisbane, was not governed by the Ipswich City Council and they were not subject to council rates.
But after four years of a battle royal with council, Mr Acworth - the Sovereign of the Principality of Acworth - paid the $13,964 in arrears to avoid his property being sold at public auction.
Mr Acworth - who claimed through his own self-appointed Supreme Court that the council's rates notices were illegal - refused to comment.
Ipswich Councillor Paul Tully said the "phantom kingdom" was being subsidised by council ratepayers.
He congratulated the principality for recognising the laws of Queensland and Australia.
"Commonsense had prevailed after four years of legal prevarication," Mr Tully said.
©AAP 2005
Original Article (http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=67574)