Perth’s city council approves a 40% increase in council rates as part of its new budget, with the stated aim of reducing antisocial behaviour on vacant properties. The measure is designed to target issues including illegal dumping and related conduct occurring around unused or poorly maintained sites. Multiple outlets report that the council is using the budget decision to fund responses to these problems and improve local management of affected areas. The reporting is consistent across sources: the rate hike is framed as a direct response to antisocial behaviour concerns, particularly those linked to vacant properties, rather than as a general tax adjustment. While the outlets describe the intent and focus of the budget change, they do not provide detailed breakdowns of spending allocations or specific enforcement mechanisms in the excerpts provided. Overall, the articles agree that the council’s decision centers on raising revenue through increased rates to address community concerns about illegal dumping and antisocial behaviour at vacant properties.