25th October 2007The Queensland Government has been forced to defend its handling of council amalgamations on two new fronts, including a claim by the Local Government Association of Queensland that the process of merging shires … Continue Reading
16th October 2007Confirmation council plebiscites won’t be held until after the November24 Federal election made it doubly important for Queenslanders concerned over Labor’s forced amalgamations to voteagainst Kevin Rudd, the State Coalition said today. Shadow Minister … Continue Reading
15th October 2007The Federal Election is the first chance voters in Queensland will getto have a say on forced council amalgamations, the Queensland Coalitionsaid today. Shadow Minister for Local Government, Howard Hobbs said revelations madepublic … Continue Reading
12th October 2007Unelected union representatives are dominating the forced councilamalgamations transition process, with revelations this week up to 54union representatives are sitting on one of the regional committeeswhich will determine how the new councils will … Continue Reading
3rd October 2007The State Coalition chose Peregian Beach this morning to launch itsrenewed campaign against Labor’s forced council amalgamations. Coalition Leader Jeff Seeney said the Sunshine Coast component of thecampaign launch was a rallying call … Continue Reading
24th September 2007Over 700,000 people and 87 Councils have demanded a say on forcedcouncil amalgamations by engaging the Australian Electoral Commission(AEC) to conduct plebiscites of electors in their area, Shadow Ministerfor Main Roads and Local … Continue Reading
24th September 2007Over 700 000 people and 87 Councils have demanded a say on forced council amalgamations by engaging the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) to conduct plebiscites of electors in their area,” Shadow Minister for … Continue Reading
24th September 2007Some 87 Queensland councils will defy the State Government and hold plebiscites on whether or not shire amalgamations should go ahead. But holding plebiscites on forced council mergers in areas not affected by … Continue Reading
18th September 2007 The Queensland Coalition has urged all affected councils to take up theFederal offer of polls on amalgamations. Coalition Leader Jeff Seeney said legislation passed in the Senate inCanberra last night cleared the … Continue Reading
12th September 2007New Premier Anna Bligh should go back to the drawing board on councilamalgamations and ensure communities have a genuine say in how they aregoverned locally, the Queensland Coalition said today. Deputy Opposition Leader … Continue Reading
10th September 2007A Senate Inquiry has backed the Federal Government’s policy of offering to pay for local Queensland councils to conduct plebiscites on the contentious issue of shire amalgamations. Nationals Senate Leader Ron Boswell says … Continue Reading
10th September 2007Shadow Minister for Local Government, Planning and Sport Howard Hobbs today warned Queensland unions that threatening Council workers affected by Council amalgamations with the sack unless they paid a union membership was akin … Continue Reading
6th September 2007The Beattie government’s impossible deadline for all council transitioncommittees to have met by Sunday was confirmed in an email from LocalGovernment Department director general to councils and unions, the StateCoalition said today. Shadow … Continue Reading
5th September 2007Local Government Minister Andrew Fraser is continuing to stuff up on newlaws forcing Queensland councils to amalgamate, with the QueenslandCoalition accusing the Minister of introducing an invalid regulationinto the State Parliament. Shadow Local … Continue Reading
5th September 2007 The state’s top judge has rejected a request by the State Government to stall a civil case brought against it by the Local Government Association stemming from the forced council amalgamations. The … Continue Reading