[Greens-Media] Greens and Douglas Shire Mayor to talk on fighting amalgamations

[Queensland Greens Media]

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QUEENSLAND GREENS MEDIA RELEASE
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Thursday 13th September 2007


GREENS AND DOUGLAS SHIRE MAYOR TO TALK ON FIGHTING AMALGAMATIONS


Australian Greens lead Senate candidate for Queensland Larissa Waters 
will today meet Douglas Shire Council Mayor Mike Berwick to discuss how 
the Greens can help to overturn the decision to amalgamate local Councils.

“The Greens strongly oppose the forced amalgamations of Queensland 
Councils and the hubris of Peter Beattie in gagging local Councils from 
conducting polls of their residents on amalgamations,” Ms Waters said.

“Political pressure from determined Queenslanders forced Peter Beattie 
to back down on prohibiting polls, and soon the Australian Electoral 
Commission will be empowered to conduct polls on the amalgamations, on a 
date to be determined.

“I call on Premier Anna Bligh to listen to the results of all polls held 
on amalgamations, and to reverse the decision to amalgamate if the 
majority of the area’s residents do not want it.

“This is democracy at its most basic level and will be a real test of 
the style of leadership we can expect from Anna Bligh.

“Queenslanders were outraged by the gradual erosion of their 
participation rights under Peter Beattie – from restrictions on 
accessing information under FOI, to special legislation to fast track 
projects without community consultation, to the final straw of not 
having a say on amalgamations.

“It’s time for people to regain confidence in our system of government 
by knowing that their rights to speak out are protected, and that their 
voice will be heard. Voters don’t elect people to silence and ignore 
them, but to represent them,” concluded Ms Waters.

Like Noosa Mayor Bob Abbott, Douglas Shire Mayor Mike Berwick has 
strongly opposed the opposed the amalgamation of Douglas Shire with 
Cairns City Council, which does not share Douglas Shire’s strong 
environmental protections.

Queensland Parliament passed legislation on 9 August 2007 to adopt the 
amalgamations recommended by the Local Government Reform Commission. 
Legislative amendments in Queensland Parliament would be required to 
overturn the Council amalgamations.

Premier Bligh has Labor’s numbers in the Queensland Parliament to pass 
any such amendment and could easily do so before the new boundaries come 
into effect after the 15 March 2008 local government elections.


For more information:

Larissa Waters
Australian Greens lead Senate candidate for Queensland
0421 844 280