❓ Question on Notice regarding local government amalgamations. O'Brien asks if the Minister is sincere about no forced amalgamations and resident control. Ford clarifies 'no forced amalgamations' and highlights existing processes for voluntary amalgamation.
AnsweredQoN 219Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS - AMALGAMATIONS
I refer to the report tabled by the minister today that, coincidentally, reflects the Labor Party’s perceived agenda to turn local governments into large regional governments and also to the remarks he made earlier today. (1) Was the minister sincere when he said that there will be no forced amalgamations of local governments? (2) Was the minister sincere when he said that residents will decide the future of their local governments? (3) Will the minister now guarantee that the future of the Town of East Fremantle as a separate local government will be decided by its residents and not by outside interests? (4) Will the minister now guarantee that the future of the Town of Kwinana as a separate local government will be decided by its residents and not by outside interests? Hon JON FORD
I refer to the report tabled by the minister today that, coincidentally, reflects the Labor Party’s perceived agenda to turn local governments into large regional governments and also to the remarks he made earlier today. (1) Was the minister sincere when he said that there will be no forced amalgamations of local governments? (2) Was the minister sincere when he said that residents will decide the future of their local governments? (3) Will the minister now guarantee that the future of the Town of East Fremantle as a separate local government will be decided by its residents and not by outside interests? (4) Will the minister now guarantee that the future of the Town of Kwinana as a separate local government will be decided by its residents and not by outside interests? Hon JON FORD
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the acting Leader of the Opposition for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) When I said that there will be no amalgamations, I meant that there will be no forced amalgamations. The provisions of the act allow for amalgamations to occur in a number of ways. If people approach me about council amalgamations, I will consider what they have to say. The process is to talk to local governments and make a decision. If local governments decide that they want to amalgamate, they can approach me. A provision in the act allows for a poll to be taken on the matter so that those concerned can decide. That is my position. Hon Simon O’Brien : That sounds like a yes to me. Hon JON FORD : There is no intention to amalgamate any local government. It is up to the Town of East Fremantle to decide whether it wants to amalgamate with another local government. I will not hunt down local governments and force them to amalgamate.
(1) Was the minister sincere when he said that there will be no forced amalgamations of local governments? (2) Was the minister sincere when he said that residents will decide the future of their local governments? (3) Will the minister now guarantee that the future of the Town of East Fremantle as a separate local government will be decided by its residents and not by outside interests? (4) Will the minister now guarantee that the future of the Town of Kwinana as a separate local government will be decided by its residents and not by outside interests? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the acting Leader of the Opposition for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) When I said that there will be no amalgamations, I meant that there will be no forced amalgamations. The provisions of the act allow for amalgamations to occur in a number of ways. If people approach me about council amalgamations, I will consider what they have to say. The process is to talk to local governments and make a decision. If local governments decide that they want to amalgamate, they can approach me. A provision in the act allows for a poll to be taken on the matter so that those concerned can decide. That is my position. Hon Simon O’Brien : That sounds like a yes to me. Hon JON FORD : There is no intention to amalgamate any local government. It is up to the Town of East Fremantle to decide whether it wants to amalgamate with another local government. I will not hunt down local governments and force them to amalgamate.
(2) Was the minister sincere when he said that residents will decide the future of their local governments? (3) Will the minister now guarantee that the future of the Town of East Fremantle as a separate local government will be decided by its residents and not by outside interests? (4) Will the minister now guarantee that the future of the Town of Kwinana as a separate local government will be decided by its residents and not by outside interests? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the acting Leader of the Opposition for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) When I said that there will be no amalgamations, I meant that there will be no forced amalgamations. The provisions of the act allow for amalgamations to occur in a number of ways. If people approach me about council amalgamations, I will consider what they have to say. The process is to talk to local governments and make a decision. If local governments decide that they want to amalgamate, they can approach me. A provision in the act allows for a poll to be taken on the matter so that those concerned can decide. That is my position. Hon Simon O’Brien : That sounds like a yes to me. Hon JON FORD : There is no intention to amalgamate any local government. It is up to the Town of East Fremantle to decide whether it wants to amalgamate with another local government. I will not hunt down local governments and force them to amalgamate.
(3) Will the minister now guarantee that the future of the Town of East Fremantle as a separate local government will be decided by its residents and not by outside interests? (4) Will the minister now guarantee that the future of the Town of Kwinana as a separate local government will be decided by its residents and not by outside interests? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the acting Leader of the Opposition for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) When I said that there will be no amalgamations, I meant that there will be no forced amalgamations. The provisions of the act allow for amalgamations to occur in a number of ways. If people approach me about council amalgamations, I will consider what they have to say. The process is to talk to local governments and make a decision. If local governments decide that they want to amalgamate, they can approach me. A provision in the act allows for a poll to be taken on the matter so that those concerned can decide. That is my position. Hon Simon O’Brien : That sounds like a yes to me. Hon JON FORD : There is no intention to amalgamate any local government. It is up to the Town of East Fremantle to decide whether it wants to amalgamate with another local government. I will not hunt down local governments and force them to amalgamate.
(4) Will the minister now guarantee that the future of the Town of Kwinana as a separate local government will be decided by its residents and not by outside interests? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the acting Leader of the Opposition for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) When I said that there will be no amalgamations, I meant that there will be no forced amalgamations. The provisions of the act allow for amalgamations to occur in a number of ways. If people approach me about council amalgamations, I will consider what they have to say. The process is to talk to local governments and make a decision. If local governments decide that they want to amalgamate, they can approach me. A provision in the act allows for a poll to be taken on the matter so that those concerned can decide. That is my position. Hon Simon O’Brien : That sounds like a yes to me. Hon JON FORD : There is no intention to amalgamate any local government. It is up to the Town of East Fremantle to decide whether it wants to amalgamate with another local government. I will not hunt down local governments and force them to amalgamate.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the acting Leader of the Opposition for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) When I said that there will be no amalgamations, I meant that there will be no forced amalgamations. The provisions of the act allow for amalgamations to occur in a number of ways. If people approach me about council amalgamations, I will consider what they have to say. The process is to talk to local governments and make a decision. If local governments decide that they want to amalgamate, they can approach me. A provision in the act allows for a poll to be taken on the matter so that those concerned can decide. That is my position. Hon Simon O’Brien : That sounds like a yes to me. Hon JON FORD : There is no intention to amalgamate any local government. It is up to the Town of East Fremantle to decide whether it wants to amalgamate with another local government. I will not hunt down local governments and force them to amalgamate.
I thank the acting Leader of the Opposition for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) When I said that there will be no amalgamations, I meant that there will be no forced amalgamations. The provisions of the act allow for amalgamations to occur in a number of ways. If people approach me about council amalgamations, I will consider what they have to say. The process is to talk to local governments and make a decision. If local governments decide that they want to amalgamate, they can approach me. A provision in the act allows for a poll to be taken on the matter so that those concerned can decide. That is my position. Hon Simon O’Brien : That sounds like a yes to me. Hon JON FORD : There is no intention to amalgamate any local government. It is up to the Town of East Fremantle to decide whether it wants to amalgamate with another local government. I will not hunt down local governments and force them to amalgamate.
(1)-(4) When I said that there will be no amalgamations, I meant that there will be no forced amalgamations. The provisions of the act allow for amalgamations to occur in a number of ways. If people approach me about council amalgamations, I will consider what they have to say. The process is to talk to local governments and make a decision. If local governments decide that they want to amalgamate, they can approach me. A provision in the act allows for a poll to be taken on the matter so that those concerned can decide. That is my position. Hon Simon O’Brien : That sounds like a yes to me. Hon JON FORD : There is no intention to amalgamate any local government. It is up to the Town of East Fremantle to decide whether it wants to amalgamate with another local government. I will not hunt down local governments and force them to amalgamate.
Hon Simon O’Brien : That sounds like a yes to me. Hon JON FORD : There is no intention to amalgamate any local government. It is up to the Town of East Fremantle to decide whether it wants to amalgamate with another local government. I will not hunt down local governments and force them to amalgamate.
Hon JON FORD : There is no intention to amalgamate any local government. It is up to the Town of East Fremantle to decide whether it wants to amalgamate with another local government. I will not hunt down local governments and force them to amalgamate.
(1) Was the minister sincere when he said that there will be no forced amalgamations of local governments? (2) Was the minister sincere when he said that residents will decide the future of their local governments? (3) Will the minister now guarantee that the future of the Town of East Fremantle as a separate local government will be decided by its residents and not by outside interests? (4) Will the minister now guarantee that the future of the Town of Kwinana as a separate local government will be decided by its residents and not by outside interests? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the acting Leader of the Opposition for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) When I said that there will be no amalgamations, I meant that there will be no forced amalgamations. The provisions of the act allow for amalgamations to occur in a number of ways. If people approach me about council amalgamations, I will consider what they have to say. The process is to talk to local governments and make a decision. If local governments decide that they want to amalgamate, they can approach me. A provision in the act allows for a poll to be taken on the matter so that those concerned can decide. That is my position. Hon Simon O’Brien : That sounds like a yes to me. Hon JON FORD : There is no intention to amalgamate any local government. It is up to the Town of East Fremantle to decide whether it wants to amalgamate with another local government. I will not hunt down local governments and force them to amalgamate.
(2) Was the minister sincere when he said that residents will decide the future of their local governments? (3) Will the minister now guarantee that the future of the Town of East Fremantle as a separate local government will be decided by its residents and not by outside interests? (4) Will the minister now guarantee that the future of the Town of Kwinana as a separate local government will be decided by its residents and not by outside interests? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the acting Leader of the Opposition for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) When I said that there will be no amalgamations, I meant that there will be no forced amalgamations. The provisions of the act allow for amalgamations to occur in a number of ways. If people approach me about council amalgamations, I will consider what they have to say. The process is to talk to local governments and make a decision. If local governments decide that they want to amalgamate, they can approach me. A provision in the act allows for a poll to be taken on the matter so that those concerned can decide. That is my position. Hon Simon O’Brien : That sounds like a yes to me. Hon JON FORD : There is no intention to amalgamate any local government. It is up to the Town of East Fremantle to decide whether it wants to amalgamate with another local government. I will not hunt down local governments and force them to amalgamate.
(3) Will the minister now guarantee that the future of the Town of East Fremantle as a separate local government will be decided by its residents and not by outside interests? (4) Will the minister now guarantee that the future of the Town of Kwinana as a separate local government will be decided by its residents and not by outside interests? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the acting Leader of the Opposition for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) When I said that there will be no amalgamations, I meant that there will be no forced amalgamations. The provisions of the act allow for amalgamations to occur in a number of ways. If people approach me about council amalgamations, I will consider what they have to say. The process is to talk to local governments and make a decision. If local governments decide that they want to amalgamate, they can approach me. A provision in the act allows for a poll to be taken on the matter so that those concerned can decide. That is my position. Hon Simon O’Brien : That sounds like a yes to me. Hon JON FORD : There is no intention to amalgamate any local government. It is up to the Town of East Fremantle to decide whether it wants to amalgamate with another local government. I will not hunt down local governments and force them to amalgamate.
(4) Will the minister now guarantee that the future of the Town of Kwinana as a separate local government will be decided by its residents and not by outside interests? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the acting Leader of the Opposition for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) When I said that there will be no amalgamations, I meant that there will be no forced amalgamations. The provisions of the act allow for amalgamations to occur in a number of ways. If people approach me about council amalgamations, I will consider what they have to say. The process is to talk to local governments and make a decision. If local governments decide that they want to amalgamate, they can approach me. A provision in the act allows for a poll to be taken on the matter so that those concerned can decide. That is my position. Hon Simon O’Brien : That sounds like a yes to me. Hon JON FORD : There is no intention to amalgamate any local government. It is up to the Town of East Fremantle to decide whether it wants to amalgamate with another local government. I will not hunt down local governments and force them to amalgamate.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the acting Leader of the Opposition for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) When I said that there will be no amalgamations, I meant that there will be no forced amalgamations. The provisions of the act allow for amalgamations to occur in a number of ways. If people approach me about council amalgamations, I will consider what they have to say. The process is to talk to local governments and make a decision. If local governments decide that they want to amalgamate, they can approach me. A provision in the act allows for a poll to be taken on the matter so that those concerned can decide. That is my position. Hon Simon O’Brien : That sounds like a yes to me. Hon JON FORD : There is no intention to amalgamate any local government. It is up to the Town of East Fremantle to decide whether it wants to amalgamate with another local government. I will not hunt down local governments and force them to amalgamate.
I thank the acting Leader of the Opposition for some notice of this question. (1)-(4) When I said that there will be no amalgamations, I meant that there will be no forced amalgamations. The provisions of the act allow for amalgamations to occur in a number of ways. If people approach me about council amalgamations, I will consider what they have to say. The process is to talk to local governments and make a decision. If local governments decide that they want to amalgamate, they can approach me. A provision in the act allows for a poll to be taken on the matter so that those concerned can decide. That is my position. Hon Simon O’Brien : That sounds like a yes to me. Hon JON FORD : There is no intention to amalgamate any local government. It is up to the Town of East Fremantle to decide whether it wants to amalgamate with another local government. I will not hunt down local governments and force them to amalgamate.
(1)-(4) When I said that there will be no amalgamations, I meant that there will be no forced amalgamations. The provisions of the act allow for amalgamations to occur in a number of ways. If people approach me about council amalgamations, I will consider what they have to say. The process is to talk to local governments and make a decision. If local governments decide that they want to amalgamate, they can approach me. A provision in the act allows for a poll to be taken on the matter so that those concerned can decide. That is my position. Hon Simon O’Brien : That sounds like a yes to me. Hon JON FORD : There is no intention to amalgamate any local government. It is up to the Town of East Fremantle to decide whether it wants to amalgamate with another local government. I will not hunt down local governments and force them to amalgamate.
Hon Simon O’Brien : That sounds like a yes to me. Hon JON FORD : There is no intention to amalgamate any local government. It is up to the Town of East Fremantle to decide whether it wants to amalgamate with another local government. I will not hunt down local governments and force them to amalgamate.
Hon JON FORD : There is no intention to amalgamate any local government. It is up to the Town of East Fremantle to decide whether it wants to amalgamate with another local government. I will not hunt down local governments and force them to amalgamate.
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