16th August 2007The State Coalition has welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement toensure Queenslanders are given a say on council amalgamations. Coalition Leader Jeff Seeney said the Federal legislation to over-ridePeter Beattie’s jack-boot fines and sackings … Continue Reading
16th August 2007Draft laws have been introduced to federal parliament that overturn a Queensland ban on councils taking part in referenda on amalgamations. The draft law introduced to the lower house permits the federal electoral … Continue Reading
15th August 2007Two Queensland regional shire councils have been spared the sack despite taking the pulse of their local communities on amalgamations. New laws passed by State Parliament last week included a provision to fine … Continue Reading
15th August 2007Up to 50 angry Queensland councils could press ahead with referenda on the shire mergers after the Federal Government confirmed today it will introduce amendments designed to protect them from the sack. Mr … Continue Reading
14th August 2007Peter Beattie’s ‘iconic’ legislation to protect Noosa and Douglas shiresstood as an icon in nonsense, the State Coalition said today. Coalition Leader Jeff Seeney said the whole episode was an absolutefarce and proved … Continue Reading
14th August 2007Federal Labor has refused to condemn Queensland’s forced council mergers, despite its leader’s stated opposition to them, according to the Nationals’ Leader of the Senate, Ron Boswell. The following notice of motion, was … Continue Reading
13th August 2007Amid rumours of internal Labor Party brawling over the issue, Premier Peter Beattie has backed down from his threats to sack councils that hold referendums on mergers, saying he doesn’t want to make … Continue Reading
13th August 2007Queensland Mayors are only holding rallies against the State Government’s controversial council amalgamation laws because they don’t want to lose their jobs, Premier Peter Beattie claims. The Queensland Parliament passed legislation on Friday … Continue Reading
13th August 2007“The Beattie Labor Governments legislation last week to prohibit Councils from requesting polls of their area by the Australian Electoral Commission is an attack on the civil rights of every Queenslander,” Howard Hobbs … Continue Reading
13th August 2007Farmers can still sell carbon credits on the open market, according the National Australia Bank, despite being excluded from the Federal Government’s proposed cap and trade system. NAB carbon finance specialist, Rachel O’Neill, … Continue Reading
11th August 2007Deputy Prime Minister, Mark Vaile, has accused Premier Beattie of using tactics more like those of a communist state than those of a democratically elected Australian government, over the forced Queensland council mergers. … Continue Reading
10th August 2007Shire councillors will be instantly sacked, under a law passed on Friday morning, if they organise referendums asking rate payers to vote on the forced Queensland regional shire mergers. A late amendment to … Continue Reading
10th August 2007The Queensland Coalition has vowed to fight on and is undertaking alegal challenge against Peter Beattie’s undemocratic laws to forcecouncil amalgamations. Queensland Coalition Leader Jeff Seeney said he had legal opinion theCoalition had … Continue Reading
10th August 2007Queensland councils have been urged to stand up to Peter Beattie’sthreats of sackings and fines by the State Coalition. Coalition Leader Jeff Seeney said the Beattie government was clearly outof control with its … Continue Reading
10th August 2007Farms can actively participate in carbon emissions trading by decreasing land clearing, changing fertilising practices and reducing methane emissions. This timely advice was delivered to delegates at the Agriculture Australia 2007 conference in … Continue Reading