LEGISLATION PASSED AFTER MARATHON DEBATE
Published Friday, 10 August, 2007 at 07:46 AM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Minister for Local Government, Planning and Sport
The Honourable Andrew Fraser
Queensland ratepayers can wake today confident they will have a stronger and more modern system of local government capable of better serving their communities.
At 4.05am – after a marathon overnight debate lasting close to 14 hours - the Beattie Government passed the Local Government Reform Implementation Bill 2007.
Premier Peter Beattie said it was the longest one-day sitting of Parliament in 22 years.
He said introduction of the ground-breaking legislation would now pave the way for new opportunities and growth in regional Queensland.
“We are replacing a system that is more than a hundred years old with a stronger and more sustainable framework for the future,” Mr Beattie said.
“Now the hard work will really begin as we work with local government to implement the reforms.
“However, for ratepayers it will be business as usual.
“Existing council chambers will remain open, councils will not be changing telephone numbers overnight and the bins will be collected as normal.
“Existing Council areas will remain until voters go to the polls in March 2008.”
The Minister for Local Government and Planning Andrew Fraser said he was confident the local government reform transitional phase would be a smooth and streamlined process.
“Thirty-four Local Transition Committees will be established to guide the change process for amalgamated councils and we are providing more than $27 million to assist with this phase,” Mr Fraser said.
“This includes $12 million for a three-year Staff Support Package which guarantees employment for the local government sector’s 37,000 employees.
“The Staff Support Package also includes a local government workforce Code of Practice to protect and support job security.
“We have legislated to protect jobs. There will be no involuntary redundancies.
“The government is committed to the reform process and we will work closely with councils and unions to ensure a smooth transition process towards our new streamlined, more sustainable system of local government.”
Mr Fraser said Queenslanders deserved a more efficient, more sustainable system of local government.
“Over the past five decades, Queensland has evolved – our population has tripled, growing by more than 2.5 million people and that sort of growth has been matched by the state’s emergence as the country’s economic engine room,” he said.
“With that has come cultural change – the very fabric of our cities and our communities and our rural centres has been altered.
“But – throughout this transformation – Queenslanders have been asked to live under a system of local government facing financial uncertainty and more fitting to a bygone time.
“Real change was needed and with this legislation real change will be achieved.
“It is a new dawn for local government in Queensland.”
10 August, 2007
Further inquiries: Premier’s Office: 3224 4500
Minister’s Office: 3227 8825
At 4.05am – after a marathon overnight debate lasting close to 14 hours - the Beattie Government passed the Local Government Reform Implementation Bill 2007.
Premier Peter Beattie said it was the longest one-day sitting of Parliament in 22 years.
He said introduction of the ground-breaking legislation would now pave the way for new opportunities and growth in regional Queensland.
“We are replacing a system that is more than a hundred years old with a stronger and more sustainable framework for the future,” Mr Beattie said.
“Now the hard work will really begin as we work with local government to implement the reforms.
“However, for ratepayers it will be business as usual.
“Existing council chambers will remain open, councils will not be changing telephone numbers overnight and the bins will be collected as normal.
“Existing Council areas will remain until voters go to the polls in March 2008.”
The Minister for Local Government and Planning Andrew Fraser said he was confident the local government reform transitional phase would be a smooth and streamlined process.
“Thirty-four Local Transition Committees will be established to guide the change process for amalgamated councils and we are providing more than $27 million to assist with this phase,” Mr Fraser said.
“This includes $12 million for a three-year Staff Support Package which guarantees employment for the local government sector’s 37,000 employees.
“The Staff Support Package also includes a local government workforce Code of Practice to protect and support job security.
“We have legislated to protect jobs. There will be no involuntary redundancies.
“The government is committed to the reform process and we will work closely with councils and unions to ensure a smooth transition process towards our new streamlined, more sustainable system of local government.”
Mr Fraser said Queenslanders deserved a more efficient, more sustainable system of local government.
“Over the past five decades, Queensland has evolved – our population has tripled, growing by more than 2.5 million people and that sort of growth has been matched by the state’s emergence as the country’s economic engine room,” he said.
“With that has come cultural change – the very fabric of our cities and our communities and our rural centres has been altered.
“But – throughout this transformation – Queenslanders have been asked to live under a system of local government facing financial uncertainty and more fitting to a bygone time.
“Real change was needed and with this legislation real change will be achieved.
“It is a new dawn for local government in Queensland.”
10 August, 2007
Further inquiries: Premier’s Office: 3224 4500
Minister’s Office: 3227 8825