Ipswich receives positive credit assessment
Published on 27 March 2026
Ipswich City Council’s ongoing focus on responsible financial management continues to pay off with council receiving a positive credit assessment from the Queensland Treasury Corporation (QTC).
The QTC completed a credit review process for council in February, affirming its credit rating as moderate with a neutral outlook.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the result was a testament to council’s disciplined budget strategies and ensuring community services are delivered efficiently.
Mayor Harding said the moderate rating and neutral outlook reflected council’s growing ratepayer base, sound cash reserves and high proportion of council-controlled revenue.
“Overall, this is a positive credit assessment given the challenging and uncertain economic times council is currently operating in,” Mayor Harding said.
“Just like our residents, we face rising inflation, higher interest rates, cost-of-living pressures and soaring fuel prices.
“The neutral outlook reflects the expectation that there are no known foreseeable events over the next two years that would have an impact on council’s capacity to meet its financial commitments or result in a change in rating.”
The QTC local government credit rating review ranges from very strong, strong, sound, moderate, weak, very weak to distressed.
Ipswich City Council sits exactly in the middle. The result was consistent with council expectations and its credit reviews from recent years.
Mayor Harding said council adopted a future-focused approach in its $678 million 2025-2026 Annual Plan and Budget that delivered for a growing city.
“It was a responsible Budget that balanced cost-of-living pressures and one that delivers for the city today and for the next 20 years as our population doubles in size,” Mayor Harding said.
“Council continues to offer value for money, a sensible approach and a range of discounts that ensure we maintain one of the lowest general rate and charges in South East Queensland.
“We can do this by finding operational efficiencies – which amounted to about $4.5 million in 2025-2026 - and can be redirected to the delivery of essential services and keeping our rates and charges low.
“Just like our residents and ratepayers, we are not immune to cost pressures and frequently see price movements higher than CPI which affect our bottom line, and ultimately costs to the community.
“Council will continue to plan for the financial challenges of the future. The balance can be difficult, but council is committed to keeping the city in a financially sustainable position.”
The 2026-2027 Budget is expected to be handed down in June this year.