❓ Hon Simon O'Brien asks about the WA government's position on local government amalgamations, referencing Queensland's forced amalgamations. Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich responds, stating the WA government does not intend to force amalgamations, preferring resource sharing and cooperation.
AnsweredQoN 615Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AMALGAMATIONS
(1) Has the minister been briefed on the Beattie government’s forced amalgamations of Queensland local governments; and, if so, by whom? (2) What is the Carpenter government’s position on the adoption of a similar policy in Western Australia and why does it hold such a position? Hon Kim Chance : That is a presumption. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH
(1) Has the minister been briefed on the Beattie government’s forced amalgamations of Queensland local governments; and, if so, by whom? (2) What is the Carpenter government’s position on the adoption of a similar policy in Western Australia and why does it hold such a position? Hon Kim Chance : That is a presumption. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH
AnswerView source ↗
(1) It is a very big presumption. I have not had a formal briefing on this matter and I do not think I need to. As Minister for Local Government for this state there is no doubt that I try to keep abreast of what is happening in other jurisdictions. I understand that the Queensland amalgamations were a direct government policy. As a result, an amalgamation process is already in train. Obviously it has become a bit of an issue with those councils that are resisting the change. In Queensland, where the delivery of sewerage and water is carried out by local government authorities as opposed to being a state government responsibility, I understand there was a very strong imperative for those reforms to occur. This government and I, as minister, have consistently made it very clear that it is not our intent to force local governments to amalgamate. (2) I do not know on what basis the member infers that this government wants to amalgamate local government authorities. It has never been the policy of this government to force amalgamation. This government does have a policy to encourage resource sharing between local authorities. It also encourages local government authorities to work cooperatively together. There are examples of amalgamations through a cooperative arrangement and I refer to Northam. The Shire of Greenough and the City of Geraldton have come together, not through forced amalgamation, but because they have recognised that there are strong synergies and economies of scale, and it is something that perhaps should have happened 100 years ago. They cannot understand why it was split in the first place. Local government authorities have been waiting for this. It is not my intent to shift from the government’s current policy position. There will be no forced amalgamations for local government authorities in Western Australia.
(2) What is the Carpenter government’s position on the adoption of a similar policy in Western Australia and why does it hold such a position? Hon Kim Chance : That is a presumption. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: (1) It is a very big presumption. I have not had a formal briefing on this matter and I do not think I need to. As Minister for Local Government for this state there is no doubt that I try to keep abreast of what is happening in other jurisdictions. I understand that the Queensland amalgamations were a direct government policy. As a result, an amalgamation process is already in train. Obviously it has become a bit of an issue with those councils that are resisting the change. In Queensland, where the delivery of sewerage and water is carried out by local government authorities as opposed to being a state government responsibility, I understand there was a very strong imperative for those reforms to occur. This government and I, as minister, have consistently made it very clear that it is not our intent to force local governments to amalgamate. (2) I do not know on what basis the member infers that this government wants to amalgamate local government authorities. It has never been the policy of this government to force amalgamation. This government does have a policy to encourage resource sharing between local authorities. It also encourages local government authorities to work cooperatively together. There are examples of amalgamations through a cooperative arrangement and I refer to Northam. The Shire of Greenough and the City of Geraldton have come together, not through forced amalgamation, but because they have recognised that there are strong synergies and economies of scale, and it is something that perhaps should have happened 100 years ago. They cannot understand why it was split in the first place. Local government authorities have been waiting for this. It is not my intent to shift from the government’s current policy position. There will be no forced amalgamations for local government authorities in Western Australia.
Hon Kim Chance : That is a presumption. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: (1) It is a very big presumption. I have not had a formal briefing on this matter and I do not think I need to. As Minister for Local Government for this state there is no doubt that I try to keep abreast of what is happening in other jurisdictions. I understand that the Queensland amalgamations were a direct government policy. As a result, an amalgamation process is already in train. Obviously it has become a bit of an issue with those councils that are resisting the change. In Queensland, where the delivery of sewerage and water is carried out by local government authorities as opposed to being a state government responsibility, I understand there was a very strong imperative for those reforms to occur. This government and I, as minister, have consistently made it very clear that it is not our intent to force local governments to amalgamate. (2) I do not know on what basis the member infers that this government wants to amalgamate local government authorities. It has never been the policy of this government to force amalgamation. This government does have a policy to encourage resource sharing between local authorities. It also encourages local government authorities to work cooperatively together. There are examples of amalgamations through a cooperative arrangement and I refer to Northam. The Shire of Greenough and the City of Geraldton have come together, not through forced amalgamation, but because they have recognised that there are strong synergies and economies of scale, and it is something that perhaps should have happened 100 years ago. They cannot understand why it was split in the first place. Local government authorities have been waiting for this. It is not my intent to shift from the government’s current policy position. There will be no forced amalgamations for local government authorities in Western Australia.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: (1) It is a very big presumption. I have not had a formal briefing on this matter and I do not think I need to. As Minister for Local Government for this state there is no doubt that I try to keep abreast of what is happening in other jurisdictions. I understand that the Queensland amalgamations were a direct government policy. As a result, an amalgamation process is already in train. Obviously it has become a bit of an issue with those councils that are resisting the change. In Queensland, where the delivery of sewerage and water is carried out by local government authorities as opposed to being a state government responsibility, I understand there was a very strong imperative for those reforms to occur. This government and I, as minister, have consistently made it very clear that it is not our intent to force local governments to amalgamate. (2) I do not know on what basis the member infers that this government wants to amalgamate local government authorities. It has never been the policy of this government to force amalgamation. This government does have a policy to encourage resource sharing between local authorities. It also encourages local government authorities to work cooperatively together. There are examples of amalgamations through a cooperative arrangement and I refer to Northam. The Shire of Greenough and the City of Geraldton have come together, not through forced amalgamation, but because they have recognised that there are strong synergies and economies of scale, and it is something that perhaps should have happened 100 years ago. They cannot understand why it was split in the first place. Local government authorities have been waiting for this. It is not my intent to shift from the government’s current policy position. There will be no forced amalgamations for local government authorities in Western Australia.
(1) It is a very big presumption. I have not had a formal briefing on this matter and I do not think I need to. As Minister for Local Government for this state there is no doubt that I try to keep abreast of what is happening in other jurisdictions. I understand that the Queensland amalgamations were a direct government policy. As a result, an amalgamation process is already in train. Obviously it has become a bit of an issue with those councils that are resisting the change. In Queensland, where the delivery of sewerage and water is carried out by local government authorities as opposed to being a state government responsibility, I understand there was a very strong imperative for those reforms to occur. This government and I, as minister, have consistently made it very clear that it is not our intent to force local governments to amalgamate. (2) I do not know on what basis the member infers that this government wants to amalgamate local government authorities. It has never been the policy of this government to force amalgamation. This government does have a policy to encourage resource sharing between local authorities. It also encourages local government authorities to work cooperatively together. There are examples of amalgamations through a cooperative arrangement and I refer to Northam. The Shire of Greenough and the City of Geraldton have come together, not through forced amalgamation, but because they have recognised that there are strong synergies and economies of scale, and it is something that perhaps should have happened 100 years ago. They cannot understand why it was split in the first place. Local government authorities have been waiting for this. It is not my intent to shift from the government’s current policy position. There will be no forced amalgamations for local government authorities in Western Australia.
(2) I do not know on what basis the member infers that this government wants to amalgamate local government authorities. It has never been the policy of this government to force amalgamation. This government does have a policy to encourage resource sharing between local authorities. It also encourages local government authorities to work cooperatively together. There are examples of amalgamations through a cooperative arrangement and I refer to Northam. The Shire of Greenough and the City of Geraldton have come together, not through forced amalgamation, but because they have recognised that there are strong synergies and economies of scale, and it is something that perhaps should have happened 100 years ago. They cannot understand why it was split in the first place. Local government authorities have been waiting for this. It is not my intent to shift from the government’s current policy position. There will be no forced amalgamations for local government authorities in Western Australia.
(2) What is the Carpenter government’s position on the adoption of a similar policy in Western Australia and why does it hold such a position? Hon Kim Chance : That is a presumption. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: (1) It is a very big presumption. I have not had a formal briefing on this matter and I do not think I need to. As Minister for Local Government for this state there is no doubt that I try to keep abreast of what is happening in other jurisdictions. I understand that the Queensland amalgamations were a direct government policy. As a result, an amalgamation process is already in train. Obviously it has become a bit of an issue with those councils that are resisting the change. In Queensland, where the delivery of sewerage and water is carried out by local government authorities as opposed to being a state government responsibility, I understand there was a very strong imperative for those reforms to occur. This government and I, as minister, have consistently made it very clear that it is not our intent to force local governments to amalgamate. (2) I do not know on what basis the member infers that this government wants to amalgamate local government authorities. It has never been the policy of this government to force amalgamation. This government does have a policy to encourage resource sharing between local authorities. It also encourages local government authorities to work cooperatively together. There are examples of amalgamations through a cooperative arrangement and I refer to Northam. The Shire of Greenough and the City of Geraldton have come together, not through forced amalgamation, but because they have recognised that there are strong synergies and economies of scale, and it is something that perhaps should have happened 100 years ago. They cannot understand why it was split in the first place. Local government authorities have been waiting for this. It is not my intent to shift from the government’s current policy position. There will be no forced amalgamations for local government authorities in Western Australia.
Hon Kim Chance : That is a presumption. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: (1) It is a very big presumption. I have not had a formal briefing on this matter and I do not think I need to. As Minister for Local Government for this state there is no doubt that I try to keep abreast of what is happening in other jurisdictions. I understand that the Queensland amalgamations were a direct government policy. As a result, an amalgamation process is already in train. Obviously it has become a bit of an issue with those councils that are resisting the change. In Queensland, where the delivery of sewerage and water is carried out by local government authorities as opposed to being a state government responsibility, I understand there was a very strong imperative for those reforms to occur. This government and I, as minister, have consistently made it very clear that it is not our intent to force local governments to amalgamate. (2) I do not know on what basis the member infers that this government wants to amalgamate local government authorities. It has never been the policy of this government to force amalgamation. This government does have a policy to encourage resource sharing between local authorities. It also encourages local government authorities to work cooperatively together. There are examples of amalgamations through a cooperative arrangement and I refer to Northam. The Shire of Greenough and the City of Geraldton have come together, not through forced amalgamation, but because they have recognised that there are strong synergies and economies of scale, and it is something that perhaps should have happened 100 years ago. They cannot understand why it was split in the first place. Local government authorities have been waiting for this. It is not my intent to shift from the government’s current policy position. There will be no forced amalgamations for local government authorities in Western Australia.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: (1) It is a very big presumption. I have not had a formal briefing on this matter and I do not think I need to. As Minister for Local Government for this state there is no doubt that I try to keep abreast of what is happening in other jurisdictions. I understand that the Queensland amalgamations were a direct government policy. As a result, an amalgamation process is already in train. Obviously it has become a bit of an issue with those councils that are resisting the change. In Queensland, where the delivery of sewerage and water is carried out by local government authorities as opposed to being a state government responsibility, I understand there was a very strong imperative for those reforms to occur. This government and I, as minister, have consistently made it very clear that it is not our intent to force local governments to amalgamate. (2) I do not know on what basis the member infers that this government wants to amalgamate local government authorities. It has never been the policy of this government to force amalgamation. This government does have a policy to encourage resource sharing between local authorities. It also encourages local government authorities to work cooperatively together. There are examples of amalgamations through a cooperative arrangement and I refer to Northam. The Shire of Greenough and the City of Geraldton have come together, not through forced amalgamation, but because they have recognised that there are strong synergies and economies of scale, and it is something that perhaps should have happened 100 years ago. They cannot understand why it was split in the first place. Local government authorities have been waiting for this. It is not my intent to shift from the government’s current policy position. There will be no forced amalgamations for local government authorities in Western Australia.
(1) It is a very big presumption. I have not had a formal briefing on this matter and I do not think I need to. As Minister for Local Government for this state there is no doubt that I try to keep abreast of what is happening in other jurisdictions. I understand that the Queensland amalgamations were a direct government policy. As a result, an amalgamation process is already in train. Obviously it has become a bit of an issue with those councils that are resisting the change. In Queensland, where the delivery of sewerage and water is carried out by local government authorities as opposed to being a state government responsibility, I understand there was a very strong imperative for those reforms to occur. This government and I, as minister, have consistently made it very clear that it is not our intent to force local governments to amalgamate. (2) I do not know on what basis the member infers that this government wants to amalgamate local government authorities. It has never been the policy of this government to force amalgamation. This government does have a policy to encourage resource sharing between local authorities. It also encourages local government authorities to work cooperatively together. There are examples of amalgamations through a cooperative arrangement and I refer to Northam. The Shire of Greenough and the City of Geraldton have come together, not through forced amalgamation, but because they have recognised that there are strong synergies and economies of scale, and it is something that perhaps should have happened 100 years ago. They cannot understand why it was split in the first place. Local government authorities have been waiting for this. It is not my intent to shift from the government’s current policy position. There will be no forced amalgamations for local government authorities in Western Australia.
(2) I do not know on what basis the member infers that this government wants to amalgamate local government authorities. It has never been the policy of this government to force amalgamation. This government does have a policy to encourage resource sharing between local authorities. It also encourages local government authorities to work cooperatively together. There are examples of amalgamations through a cooperative arrangement and I refer to Northam. The Shire of Greenough and the City of Geraldton have come together, not through forced amalgamation, but because they have recognised that there are strong synergies and economies of scale, and it is something that perhaps should have happened 100 years ago. They cannot understand why it was split in the first place. Local government authorities have been waiting for this. It is not my intent to shift from the government’s current policy position. There will be no forced amalgamations for local government authorities in Western Australia.
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