1st August 2007Despite the division created in the community over the forced mergers of regional councils and the personal abuse directed his way in recent months, Qld Local Government Minister, Andrew Fraser, says he would … Continue Reading
27th July 2007The number of Queensland councils will be slashed by more than half – from 157 to just 72 – following a review into the state’s local government boundaries announced today. While there will … Continue Reading
26th July 2007The Queensland Government will reveal plans for local government amalgamations tomorrow, almost a week ahead of schedule. The Local Government Reform Commission was snowed under with submissions on the contentious issue of proposed … Continue Reading
4th July 2007The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) and the State Government have locked horns again on whether it would be lawful for councils to hold referendums on the issue of forced amalgamations. LGAQ … Continue Reading
26th June 2007Further evidence of country Queensland’s rising distaste for Premier Peter Beattie’s push for forced rural and regional council amalgamations has surfaced in a just-released survey. People living in south-east Queensland, but excluding Brisbane … Continue Reading
19th June 2007Claims by the Queensland Government that the State’s country councils would collapse in droves financially without amalgamations have been exposed as baseless and without foundation. That’s the thrust of a just-released report by … Continue Reading
15th June 2007A groundswell of pressure by rural Queenslanders could forge a late Labor backdown on Council amalgamations. Nationals Senator for Queensland, Ron Boswell, said two events this week point to an imminent backflip by … Continue Reading
13th June 2007The Qld Government has brought forward a meeting-of-minds between disaffected western Queensland mayors and rural organisations over the smouldering issue of forced council amalgamations. Originally penciled in towards the end of the month, … Continue Reading
24th May 2007 Ladies and Gentlemen: It is once more my privilege to present the PRA Chairman’s Report. The year 2006/2007 has been one of mixed fortunes; however, in my view, the positives have exceeded the … Continue Reading
23rd May 2007 THE IRONY of regional council staff chanting “the workers united will never be defeated” at a series of rallies may be starting to unnerve the Queensland Government’s hard-line approach to forced council … Continue Reading
21st May 2007AgForce is calling on the State Government to halt its forced shire amalgamation process and give the community a meaningful say, in the wake of a comprehensive AgForce member survey and more grassroots … Continue Reading
23rd April 2007 “Regional and Rural Small Businesses and local jobs are set to be decimated under the disgraceful Beattie Labor Government’s plan to force large scale Local Government amalgamations,” Shadow Minister for Local Government … Continue Reading
17th April 2007Rural shire councils are seething that the Queensland Government has ditched a consultation process and will pursue forced shire amalgamations instead. Premier Peter Beattie today stunned local councillors across the state by announcing … Continue Reading