❓ Mr. Morton asks for an update on the implementation of metropolitan local government reform. Mr. Simpson responds, highlighting progress and the dismissal of legal challenges against the reform process.
AnsweredQoN 993Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
LOCAL GOVERNMENT — AMALGAMATIONS
993. MR N.W. MORTON to the
Minister for Local Government:
Before I ask my question, I acknowledge the presence in the
public gallery of the staff and students of All Saints College in the
electorate of the member for Bateman.
Could the minister please provide the house with an update on
the implementation of the metropolitan local government reform process?
993. MR N.W. MORTON to the
Minister for Local Government:
Before I ask my question, I acknowledge the presence in the
public gallery of the staff and students of All Saints College in the
electorate of the member for Bateman.
Could the minister please provide the house with an update on
the implementation of the metropolitan local government reform process?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for his question and also for his interest
in local government reform. I have spoken many times in this house about the
local government reform process and —
The SPEAKER : That
gentleman at the back with his phone on, will you switch your phone off. You
are not allowed to take photos in here. Thank you.
Mr A.J. SIMPSON :
As I said, I have spoken in this house many times about the local government
reform process and I am very pleased to see the progress that is being made. A
number of local governments have already formed their links and are working
well together to get through that process by 1 July 2015. It was great to see
yesterday that the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court dismissed both legal
actions against me as Minister for Local Government over the metropolitan local
government reform process. It is very important to make members aware that the
local governments of Subiaco, South Perth and Serpentine–Jarrahdale,
and a resident from the Town of Vincent, took action against me in the Supreme
Court. I think the actual —
Mr P.B. Watson interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Albany!
Mr A.J. SIMPSON :
The Supreme Court heard both cases yesterday and all applicants'
grounds for action were rejected by that court. I think that is a great,
outstanding result. We as a government have followed the Local Government Act
to the letter and we have been through it a number of times. It was quite
clearly stated by the court that we have done the right thing by following the
Local Government Act, and that there are no grounds for action at all, and it
was rejected by the court. More importantly, the opposition has made many statements
about the chair of the Local Government Advisory Board and the —
Mr D.A. Templeman interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Mandurah!
Mr D.A. Templeman :
They keep saying it, mate: you're an arrogant idiot!
Withdrawal of Remark
The
SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I suggest that you withdraw that.
Mr
D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I withdraw.
The SPEAKER : I
call you to order for the first time, and you are lucky that I am not calling
you to order for the second time. Member for Perth, I call you to order for the
first time.
Questions
without Notice Resumed
Mr A.J. SIMPSON : I
thank the opposition for their interjections. It has been interesting. As part
of the process of the legal challenge, the opposition raised a lot of issues
about the bias of the Local Government Advisory Board, including its chair.
Those charges were put to the Chief Justice as well, who made the comment that
the allegations against the Local Government Advisory Board were fanciful and
entirely speculative. He actually dismissed that case altogether. Quite
clearly, that decision endorses the government's process and the
direction in which we are trying to head. The court has heard the case, we are
following the Local Government Act, and now we are getting on with the process
of local government reform to ensure that we lead better local governments into
the future to provide better services for ratepayers.
in local government reform. I have spoken many times in this house about the
local government reform process and —
The SPEAKER : That
gentleman at the back with his phone on, will you switch your phone off. You
are not allowed to take photos in here. Thank you.
Mr A.J. SIMPSON :
As I said, I have spoken in this house many times about the local government
reform process and I am very pleased to see the progress that is being made. A
number of local governments have already formed their links and are working
well together to get through that process by 1 July 2015. It was great to see
yesterday that the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court dismissed both legal
actions against me as Minister for Local Government over the metropolitan local
government reform process. It is very important to make members aware that the
local governments of Subiaco, South Perth and Serpentine–Jarrahdale,
and a resident from the Town of Vincent, took action against me in the Supreme
Court. I think the actual —
Mr P.B. Watson interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Albany!
Mr A.J. SIMPSON :
The Supreme Court heard both cases yesterday and all applicants'
grounds for action were rejected by that court. I think that is a great,
outstanding result. We as a government have followed the Local Government Act
to the letter and we have been through it a number of times. It was quite
clearly stated by the court that we have done the right thing by following the
Local Government Act, and that there are no grounds for action at all, and it
was rejected by the court. More importantly, the opposition has made many statements
about the chair of the Local Government Advisory Board and the —
Mr D.A. Templeman interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Mandurah!
Mr D.A. Templeman :
They keep saying it, mate: you're an arrogant idiot!
Withdrawal of Remark
The
SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I suggest that you withdraw that.
Mr
D.A. TEMPLEMAN : I withdraw.
The SPEAKER : I
call you to order for the first time, and you are lucky that I am not calling
you to order for the second time. Member for Perth, I call you to order for the
first time.
Questions
without Notice Resumed
Mr A.J. SIMPSON : I
thank the opposition for their interjections. It has been interesting. As part
of the process of the legal challenge, the opposition raised a lot of issues
about the bias of the Local Government Advisory Board, including its chair.
Those charges were put to the Chief Justice as well, who made the comment that
the allegations against the Local Government Advisory Board were fanciful and
entirely speculative. He actually dismissed that case altogether. Quite
clearly, that decision endorses the government's process and the
direction in which we are trying to head. The court has heard the case, we are
following the Local Government Act, and now we are getting on with the process
of local government reform to ensure that we lead better local governments into
the future to provide better services for ratepayers.
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