The government is not ruling out forced council amalgamations after indicating that the number of councils across the state is "unsustainable". [That has been evident for decades and this realisation is an exemplar of the level of disconnection in regard to governance's purpose and the administration of it in local govt.]
When asked by Labor whether the state government would use this power, Local Government Minister Nic Street failed to deny forced amalgamations.
Mr Street said the local government review was underway, and in the first six months of that review it became clear that "the status quo is unsustainable for a number of councils going forward in this state".[That was know at the outset]
He said a report with recommendations will be released at the end of March, and there will be options for the local government sector to shape what course would be taken moving forward.[The status quo will as likely as not be Councils and their management want given the fiscal rewards at stake]
"I have been absolutely clear the whole way along that I want to be open and transparent about how we go through this process," Mr Street said. [If so that has been poorly presented and marketed]
"The government's role will come when the report is delivered to us ... I am not going to preempt what recommendations might be in that report but I am more than happy to put on the record that we want to be transparent and open about this process. What role parliament has will be a decision that we need to make going forward as well," he said.
"At the councils that I have visited [28 out of 29], I have made it clear that all options are still on the table as far as the state government is concerned because we have not received the second report." [Nonetheless, 'THE PROCESS' is slanted towards the status quo Indirect Representational model with a repair here and there when in a 21st C context CHANGE needs to be a fundamental shift away from it]
Labor local government spokesman Luke Edmunds said the minister was looking to forcibly amalgamate Tasmania's local councils by stealth. [Quite probably and all the while essentially maintaining the status and that too by stealth]
He said Labor did not support forced amalgamations and the loss of jobs and local services across Tasmania. [That need not be so with audacious and fundamental change]
"Minister Street has arrogantly refused to say if he'll take on board the views of councils and their communities and won't rule out using his powers via Section 214 E of the Act to force the issue," Mr Edmunds. [YES that is an ominous and subliminal signal coming from Minister Street]
"If he wants to close down councils and trash local jobs in the process he should commit to bringing his amalgamations agenda before both houses of parliament," he said. [That is true but parliament needs to be deliberating on the model of governance NOT weather or not forced amalgamations should occur]
"The future of local government is worthy of more than a few poorly advertised town hall meetings that excluded every city in Tasmania." [That is so, so true albeit that it is being said rather late in a rather questionable process]
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