Published Tuesday, 13 November, 2007 at 01:32 PM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
Calls for Royal Commission into local government reforms fail basic test
Opponents of local government reforms in Queensland were wasting their breath with calls for a Royal Commission into the reform process, Local Government Minister Warren Pitt said today.
Mr Pitt said groups agitating for a Royal Commission had not come up with a shred of evidence to support their claims that the process had been fraudulent.
“They have failed the most basic test, and that is to show there is something to be investigated. I can give them a quick reply to their demand for a Royal Commission – there won’t be one,” Mr Pitt said.
“These groups are also calling for an inquiry by the Crime and Misconduct Commission into their claims.
“Here, too, they are going to need more than concocted, half-baked claims to convince the CMC to take them seriously.
“Two weeks ago, the Opposition Leader Mr Seeney said the CMC should investigate the claim that legislation to enact the recommendations of the Local Government Reform Commission had been drafted before the commission’s report was handed down.
“I said at the time that if Mr Seeney genuinely believed there had been any wrongdoing, he would formally refer this matter to the CMC for investigation. As far as I know, he hasn’t.
“Likewise, if these groups want to be treated seriously then they need to come forward with something of substance to back up their claims.
“They keep bleating about the need for an inquiry, but cannot demonstrate the faintest outline of a case that would warrant investigation by the CMC or a Royal Commission.”
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819
Mr Pitt said groups agitating for a Royal Commission had not come up with a shred of evidence to support their claims that the process had been fraudulent.
“They have failed the most basic test, and that is to show there is something to be investigated. I can give them a quick reply to their demand for a Royal Commission – there won’t be one,” Mr Pitt said.
“These groups are also calling for an inquiry by the Crime and Misconduct Commission into their claims.
“Here, too, they are going to need more than concocted, half-baked claims to convince the CMC to take them seriously.
“Two weeks ago, the Opposition Leader Mr Seeney said the CMC should investigate the claim that legislation to enact the recommendations of the Local Government Reform Commission had been drafted before the commission’s report was handed down.
“I said at the time that if Mr Seeney genuinely believed there had been any wrongdoing, he would formally refer this matter to the CMC for investigation. As far as I know, he hasn’t.
“Likewise, if these groups want to be treated seriously then they need to come forward with something of substance to back up their claims.
“They keep bleating about the need for an inquiry, but cannot demonstrate the faintest outline of a case that would warrant investigation by the CMC or a Royal Commission.”
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819