I am asking about the forced amalgamations in Queensland.?

Question

Sir,

Mr Beattie has taken away our democratic rights and forced council amalgamations here in Queensland. I live in a small council area, which was moving along very well. Now we are thrust into a larger regional area and are about to lose much of what we have achieved over the last 100 years or so.

From what we have been told there will be much hardship experiened in the area. For myself, my house was recently valued, and the opening statement of "in view of upcoming amalgamation" and we have been de-valued. My job is threatened. I am not alone in this.

I would like to know that since we are not permitted to vote on this issue what will you do to stop Peter Beattie's bid for dictatorship here in Queensland. Will you allow us a voice and is we say NO would you give us our Council's back? It's not just a question of jobs, but everything our lives are made up of.

Thank you Sir.

Nick

Answer 1

http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/article...

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie may not be welcomed with open arms when he visits central Queensland on Sunday, two days after the decision to force controversial local government reforms.

Mr Beattie will visit Barcaldine to promote his government's support of the Local Government Reform Commission recommendation to cut the state's 156 councils to 72.

Under the sweeping reforms, Barcaldine Council will be amalgamated with neighbouring councils Aramac and Jericho.

The changes will also see the number of Queensland councillors and mayors drop from 1,250 to 526, with 724 people losing their seats at the council table.

But it is the loss of council staff - administration and outdoor workers - that has worried rural and regional communities like Barcaldine since the reform process was announced.

Mr Beattie's visit is expected to be met with angry protests on Sunday, but on Saturday he continued to defend the reforms.

He told reporters in Brisbane that amalgamations would give councils more force.

Bigger councils would enable regions to better negotiate with mining companies and other industry bodies, Mr Beattie said.

"These amalgamations, while they come from an independent commission, give us the opportunity to give each one of these councils some real clout," he said.

"Queensland is the growth state of Australia ... We are trying to build stronger councils to cope with that growth."

The National Party on Saturday outlined its response to the reforms.

Queensland Nationals leader Jeff Seeney said a coalition government would de-amalgamate councils if a poll of residents indicated that preference, unveiling a four-point plan at his party's state conference.

"It's a dishonest, ideologically driven agenda that's all about strangling small communities, it's all about strangling what they see as the heartland of National Party politicians, and it's all about strangling the right of communities to have their say," he told delegates.

The plan would also restore Torres Strait Island councils, and seek a constitutional recognition of local government, to prevent state government-led reform in future.

Mr Seeney slammed the premier's decision to visit Barcaldine after a decision had been made.

"I think it's an absolute farce for him to go up there now because he's got no intention of taking any notice of anybody," he said.

The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) is concerned about what the reforms will mean for independent council candidates.

LGAQ president Paul Bell said they did not qualify for election funding, yet under the proposed new boundaries, they would be campaigning in divisions as big as some state seats.

"Candidates will have to campaign across entire council regions with an average size each of 25,000 square kilometres," he said.

Answer 2

If it is anything like what Jeff Kennett forced on Victorians then you can look for an increase in the lack of service, and increase in all council fees, an increase in wages for managers and a decrease of all staff and equipment. I do not know who benefits for these forced amalgamations of shires and towns but I can promise the people who live there don't

Answer 3

Jeff Kennett did the same thing in Victoria a few years ago and there was a great deal of anger and doomsday predictions then.  Although because he was a Liberal leader it was the other side who were doing all the screaming.

Since it happened I think that almost all the people think it was a good idea.  I am certainly no supporter of Jeff Kennett's but amalgamating the Local Councils has made the delivery of local services much more efficient and a good deal more professional and equal.  

I think that any change like this is difficult for some people and Queenslanders have shown themselves to be extremely resistant to change of any sort.  Look at the daylight saving thing!  

But I honestly think that amalgamating the Councils is something that has to be done otherwise you will continue to have a whole lot of self-serving little cliques who cannot get access to much needed resources because there are a million other self-serving little cliques competing for the same things.  

It really is a great idea and you won't know yourselves once it it done.

Answer 4

Impeach the big government advocate.