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
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
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
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 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 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
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 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 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
9th August 2007Labor’s forced local government amalgamations legislation was anunprecedented grab for control and would hand all power to the Minister,the State Coalition warned today. State Coalition Leader Jeff Seeney said Labor’s Local Government ReformLegislation … Continue Reading
8th August 2007Democracy comes at a high price in Queensland, with the State Government legislating to fine defiant mayors and councillors $1125 each if they poll their residents on forced amalgamations. The uproar against council … Continue Reading
7th August 2007The Prime Minister’s announcement the Australian Electoral Commission > will conduct local polls on council amalgamations free-of-charge has > been applauded by the State Coalition.> > Queensland Coalition Leader Jeff Seeney said Prime … Continue Reading
7th August 2007The issue of Labor’s forced local government amalgamations will behighlighted in State Parliament today as the Queensland Coalitioncontinues to fight against the undemocratic process which has forcedlocal communities to merge without any input … Continue Reading
7th August 2007The Federal Government has intervened in the contentious issue of Queensland council amalgamations, offering to pay for the Australian Electoral Commission to conduct the referenda which the State Government has refused to conduct. … Continue Reading
2nd August 2007Peter Beattie’s arrogance on forced amalgamations was openly displayedin his government’s email* giving just four days for councils to adviseon divisions and suggest alternate names for merged councils. Queensland Coalition Leader Jeff Seeney … Continue Reading