ONE can understand local auctioneers' anger over a Brisbane firm being awarded the contract to conduct a large Bundaberg Regional Council sale.

One auctioneer said the profits from the sale would have paid the wage of one of his employees for a whole year.

We all understand the importance of dealing as much in Bundaberg as possible to keep jobs here.

But I think in this case the council was in a no-win situation.

The council is obligated to make as much money as it can from these events.

That keeps our rates down while enabling the council to employ local people in the region.

This would definitely not be the first case when a Brisbane company has won a job over a local firm.

And I doubt many of our companies get jobs from the Brisbane council.

As I understand it, the council gives a weighting towards local companies when deciding who should get a job.

There may be a more equitable way to manage such situations.

Maybe a joint venture involving locals and out of towners.