30th August 2007 The Australian Local Government Association has recommended councils hold amalgamation ballots on Saturday, October 20. Local Government Association of Queensland president Paul Bell, told this week’s LGAQ annual conference on the Gold … Continue Reading
27th August 2007The Queensland government has called for the scrapping of a Senate inquiry into laws that would sanction local voting on forced council mergers. The polls are tipped by the Queensland Local Government Association … Continue Reading
27th August 2007Council plebiscite laws necessary to guarantee free speech New Federal laws overriding the State Government’s threats to sackcouncils are necessary to guarantee Queenslanders’ freedom of speech,the Queensland Coalition said today. Shadow Local Government … Continue Reading
23rd August 2007Federal Minister for Local Government, Jim Lloyd, today called on Premier Peter Beattie to throw out all legislation relating to ‘his ham-fisted local government amalgamations’ and start again. This time, he needs to … Continue Reading
22nd August 2007Queensland Coalition pressure in State Parliament has forced PremierBeattie to strike out laws which made it illegal for councils to holdreferendums to determine their local community’s views on forced councilamalgamations. During Question Time … Continue Reading
21st August 2007The State Coalition has vowed not to back-off in its fight to protectcommunities from Labor’s forced council mergers. Coalition Leader Jeff Seeney this morning promised there’d be no let upin State Parliament this … Continue Reading
20th August 2007Queensland Premier Peter Beattie admits he “stuffed up” by legislating to ban polls on forced local government mergers and says he won’t sack councils that hold referendums on the issue. Citing new government-commissioned … Continue Reading
20th August 2007Queensland Premier Peter Beattie’s decision to withdraw threats to sack councils if they conduct amalgamation ballots has been hailed as a victory for the people by Prime Minister John Howard. Mr Beattie yesterday … Continue Reading
19th August 2007The Beattie Labor Government has once again been caught out using pushpolling to try and legitimise their forced local governmentamalgamations, the Queensland Coalition said today. These fresh allegations follow on the heels of … Continue Reading
17th August 2007Queensland Premier Peter Beattie should ditch his plans to slash the number of councils from 156 to 72 on economic grounds, according to three experts. Throughout the controversial process, Mr Beattie has maintained … Continue Reading
17th August 2007Premier Peter Beattie should stop his political posturing and acceptthat Queensland communities will get a say on the future of their localcouncils, the Queensland Coalition said today. State Coalition Leader Jeff Seeney called … 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
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 2007Nothing the Prime Minister has announced today will make a difference to the much needed reform of local government in Queensland, according to Qld Premier, Peter Beattie. “The Prime Minister’s latest stunt is … 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