Our campaign to restore concession equality to war widows on council rates in NSW is gaining momentum. Since December 2025 we have engaged with 90 Councils and State Government representatives. 

Our second round of engagement has now commenced. This round of engagement provides costings of the proposal, allowing Councils and the State Government to understand the impacts of our request. 

Changes we are seeking 

Currently, section 134 of the Local Government Regulation limits eligibility for full local government rate concessions to war widows/widowers who would qualify for a Pensioner Concession Card (PCC). In practice, this income and assets test means some war widows in NSW lose a concession they previously received as a household once their veteran spouse dies. We want to see this removed from the Regulation so that the concession is available to all DVA recognised war widows/widowers. 

We have identified that there are 3,227 recognised war widows across the state who are currently ineligible for the council rate concession, while more than 6,000 war widows across the state receive the concession. 

Costs of expanding eligibility 

Funding of rate concessions in NSW is shared between State and Local Government with the State Government contributing 55% of the required funding and Local Government contributing 45%. 

The total cost to the NSW State Government of implementing the change to s134 is up to $754,311 with the remaining $616,500 to be shared among 128 local councils in NSW. The total cost of the change we are seeking is estimated at $1.37 million per year. 

While some war widows become ineligible for the concession because they inherit their partner’s assets, many do not. In an environment where the cost of living is ever increasing, the concession conferred by s134 of the Regulation offers a significant and material difference in the lives of more than 3,000 war widows across NSW. 

Responses to date 

After bringing this issue to the attention of Councils and Mayors around the state, not only have we gained the support of many, but some have gone further. Ryde Council has chosen to implement the concession for all war widows in their area. Additionally, the Hills Shire Council has advised that they provide an additional rebate available to war widows in their area on their rates. For more information on both please contact Ryde Council on 02 9952 8222 or at cityofryde@ryde.nsw.gov.au and the Hills Shire Council on 02 9843 0555 or at council@thehills.nsw.gov.au. 

Additionally, Majors of Hawksbury and Yass have passed formal resolutions supporting this change. We’ve also had multiple Mayors and State Members write to the Minister for Local Government in support of this change. Including the Minister for Veterans, The Hon David Harris MP. 

The Minister for Local Government, the Hon Ron Hoenig MP has responded to both the Guild, some of our members, and Councils, noting a review of the Local Government Regulation is currently underway and our proposal is being considered as part of that process. 

Further, State Shadow Minister for Veterans and Local Government Tim James MP is supportive of the proposal and we are grateful for the additional attention he and his office are helping us bring to this issue. 

While we are not quite there yet, momentum is building and we continue to advocate for change. You can continue to support this campaign by sending letters of support for this change to the Office for Local Government at olg@olg.nsw.gov.au or continue speaking with your State Member. 

Over 3,000 war widows across NSW are being stripped of their local council rate concessions following the death of their veteran spouse, at an already devastating time for these individuals [1]. The Families of Veterans Guild (The Guild) is calling on the NSW Government to fix this unfair rule and restore concession equality for this vulnerable group.

Section 134 of the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021 imposes an income and asset test on war widows when their veteran partner dies, a test which they do not need to go through when their loved one is alive. This means 35% of NSW war widows are losing this critical concession at what is already the most difficult time of their lives.

This concession results in a reduction in local council rates, covering services like waste, water and emergency levies. The 2025 Veteran Families Survey, commissioned by the Families of Veterans Guild showed that 39% of war widows are already concerned about their financial situation and 37% experienced under or unemployment over the last 12 months. The removal of this financial support places extra burdens on (mostly) women whose income-earning capacity is often limited, increasing financial pressures for those who need support most.

Renee Wilson, CEO of the Families of Veterans Guild, said “This regulatory change from the NSW government is not just stripping away a vital concession from the already vulnerable war widow community, it’s doing so at a time of immense grief when their veteran passes away.”

“To penalise these individuals, who have supported their veteran partners for decades, by imposing new means tests on them simply isn’t fair.”

The Guild highlights that the fix is simple: amend Section 134 of the Local Governments (General) Regulation NSW 2021 and remove the income and assets test for war widows. The financial impact on the government is minimal, as most affected households had previously received the concession.

“We are asking the NSW Government to make a simple change to honour the service of our veteran families and restore the equality these widows deserve,” Renee Wilson continued.

The Guild is urging NSW residents to support the campaign by writing to their local MP.

More information is available here.