Progress for forced amalgamation plebiscite bill
SPEAKING UP: Greens MP David Shoebridge supported an Upper House bill this week which would allow residents to vote on whether they want a merged council.
A bill which would force the government to host a series of referendums in line with the September 9 council election passed the upper house this week.
Introduced by the Shooters and Fishers Party, the bill was supported by the Greens, Labor opposition, Christian Democrats and Animal Justice Party, according to Greens MP David Shoebridge, who spoke following the sitting.
Essentially, the bill would see the government take a step back, giving a say to communities on whether they want their local government area merged.
“Go and ask the residents before you take another step and unless those residents agree, unless each of those constituent councils say yes, those amalgamations end,” Mr Shoebridge urged Premier Gladys Berejiklian regarding those metropolitan councils that are in limbo over whether they amalgamate or not.
Closer to home, the bill would see residents of councils such as Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council able to vote on whether the merger should continue.
“For all those deeply undemocratic forced amalgamations that have already happened, they get to have a plebiscite, they get to have a say about whether or not they agree with the amalgamation; if they don’t agree it forces the government to de-amalgamate,” Mr Shoebridge said.
An amendment to the bill put up by the Greens, states that “never again” can a government forcibly amalgamate a council without first asking the residents and getting their agreement.
For all those deeply undemocratic forced amalgamations that have already happened...they get to have a say about whether of not they agree with the amalgamation.
Greens MP David Shoebridge
There is a long way to go before the bill becomes law, with it now set to go to the Lower House.
Phil Jenkyn from the Save our Councils Coalition urged the Lower House to pass the legislation.
“Listen to the people and then what you should be doing is withdrawing your despised and hated forced amalgamations,” Mr Jenkyn said.
“You should let this legislation go through; you should pass it and you should make the September elections in Local Government a meaningful time when these plebiscites can take place,” he continued.
“Do it now Gladys for the community or you shall forever regret it,” he concluded.