Plebiscites will have no bearing on council amalgamations

Local Government Minister Warren Pitt has welcomed comments by the Liberal Member for Noosa, Glen Elmes, that people voting in plebiscites will not change the State Government’s mind on council amalgamations.

Mr Pitt said the results of any community polls would not alter the government's decision and direction on local government reform.

“The die is cast – there is no turning back,” Mr Pitt said. “The amalgamations are proceeding as planned irrespective of these plebiscites.”

Mr Pitt said the plebiscites had been arranged by the previous Federal Government, in an attempt to insert itself – uninvited – into an area of State Government responsibility.

“It really doesn’t matter what comes out of these polls – they have no standing. They stand outside the reform process.

“Although the State Government has made its position abundantly clear, there are still some people who wishfully think that the government will change its mind.

“Perhaps if these people won’t believe what the government says, they will take some heed of Mr Elmes,” Mr Pitt said.

“Mr Elmes is under no illusion that the community polls will lead to the government changing its mind, and neither should be anyone else.

“The government remains totally committed to the State's new, stronger structure of local government, as determined by the independent Local Government Reform Commission.

“The passing of the Local Government Reform Implementation Act 2007 on 10 August confirmed the new local government structure for Queensland.

“The results of community polls will have no bearing on the reform process.”

Mr Pitt said that in a number of areas at the weekend’s federal elections where had been a concerted effort to make the council amalgamations issue cause damage to federal Labor, there had been a swing against the federal government.

“We are now less than four months away from the elections on 15 March 2008 for 73 local government areas in Queensland.

“The focus for local governments has now shifted to the implementation of the new structure. The government is working with councils to help ensure a smooth transition,” Mr Pitt said.

Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819