[Greens-Media] Voters get a say on Baird's forced council mergers plan and 95.5% say 'No!'

[David Shoebridge MLC]

*Media Release: Voters get a say on Baird's forced council mergers plan and
95.5% say 'No!*

*8 May 2016*

The first electoral test of the Baird Government's forced amalgamation
plans has seen 95.5% of voters in Kiama say 'no' to forced amalgamations
and support of their local council standing alone.

In a purely voluntary referendum weekend initial counting shows that 47% of
eligible voters turned out and 95.5% voted 'no' to the forced amalgamation
and supported their council standing alone. The strong turnout will be
shown to be even higher as postal votes are counted in the next few days.

See:
https://results.elections.nsw.gov.au/LB1604/Kiama/Poll/FirstPreferencesReport.pdf

*Greens MP and Local Government Spokesperson David Shoebridge said:*

"This result is a credit to Kiama Council and local campaigners who have
stared down Premier Baird and done what any responsible government should
do, ask their residents.

"When 95.5% of voters are of one mind, and are coming out to support their
local council, this makes it politically impossible for Mike Baird to push
on with his forced amalgamation plan for Kiama.

"The mood we have seen in Kiama is pretty much mirrored across NSW where
local residents are strongly opposed to the forced amalgamation of their
local councils.

"The comprehensive rejection of Baird's forced amalgamations in
this plebiscite in Kiama explains why he and his Local Government Minister
have been so keen to avoid referendums everywhere else in the state.

"The fact is, when residents get the chance to vote on forced amalgamations
they come out and slam the proposals. They want to keep their local
councils local.

"Surely even the arrogant and out of touch Baird government now knows that
it's forced amalgamation agenda is about as popular with voters as a dead
cat.

"With more and more councils mounting legal challenges, this weekend's
referendum adds to a growing state-wide revolt against forced amalgamations
and in support of genuinely local and responsible councils," Mr Shoebridge
said.

*Media comment: 0408 113 952*



-- 

*David ShoebridgeGreens MP in the NSW Legislative CouncilP: (02) 9230
3030 |Media: 0408 113 952|T: @ShoebridgeMLC
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