❓ Mr. Templeman questions the Minister for Local Government about the funding ('bucket of money') for council amalgamations, which the government previously denied. The Minister avoids providing a specific amount, citing ongoing assessment and the need for a tailored approach.
AnsweredQoN 288Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
LOCAL
GOVERNMENT — AMALGAMATIONS
288. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN to the Minister for Local Government:
I refer to the major council amalgamation agenda this
government is embarking on, despite denying it during the recent election
campaign, and the minister's reported comments on 31 May that ''a
bucket of money'' will be made available.
(1) How much
is contained in the bucket of money that the minister will throw at councils to
amalgamate?
(2) From where will this bucket of money be obtained?
GOVERNMENT — AMALGAMATIONS
288. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN to the Minister for Local Government:
I refer to the major council amalgamation agenda this
government is embarking on, despite denying it during the recent election
campaign, and the minister's reported comments on 31 May that ''a
bucket of money'' will be made available.
(1) How much
is contained in the bucket of money that the minister will throw at councils to
amalgamate?
(2) From where will this bucket of money be obtained?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
(1)–(2)
The member may be aware that two weeks ago I held a series of meetings with the
mayors, CEOs and presidents of the 30 metropolitan councils to outline the
government's approach towards the reform process. There were a number
of frank discussions and questions from the floor. I raised the fact of a
funding model. We looked at a number of issues on the table. For instance,
through a process in Queensland, local governments had to produce receipts for
the cost of amalgamation so that the government could reimburse them. We have
gone through the department to look at a number of models of the best way
forward, as not one size fits all. As members can imagine, through the reform
process some councils will be bigger than others. It also depends on their rate
base and population, and what changes are needed in that process to make a new
identity. We are going through the process at the moment.
Mr D.A. Templeman : So how much?
Mr
A.J. SIMPSON : Patience is a virtue, member. You will have to wait for the
report to come out!
Members can probably use the terminology ''a bucket of
money'', but the process is to find the best model that fits all. As I
said at the start, not one model will fit all. We will go through that process.
We will more than likely go through a process of working out what sort of
programs will be funded in the reform process. That will all be identified when
we announce our report to the 30 mayors and presidents of local governments. We
will bring them back in when we reply to the Robson report. We will go through
that process, keeping in mind, member, that the Robson report contains 30 recommendations—only
one is a map—that will affect local governments all over the state.
(1)–(2)
The member may be aware that two weeks ago I held a series of meetings with the
mayors, CEOs and presidents of the 30 metropolitan councils to outline the
government's approach towards the reform process. There were a number
of frank discussions and questions from the floor. I raised the fact of a
funding model. We looked at a number of issues on the table. For instance,
through a process in Queensland, local governments had to produce receipts for
the cost of amalgamation so that the government could reimburse them. We have
gone through the department to look at a number of models of the best way
forward, as not one size fits all. As members can imagine, through the reform
process some councils will be bigger than others. It also depends on their rate
base and population, and what changes are needed in that process to make a new
identity. We are going through the process at the moment.
Mr D.A. Templeman : So how much?
Mr
A.J. SIMPSON : Patience is a virtue, member. You will have to wait for the
report to come out!
Members can probably use the terminology ''a bucket of
money'', but the process is to find the best model that fits all. As I
said at the start, not one model will fit all. We will go through that process.
We will more than likely go through a process of working out what sort of
programs will be funded in the reform process. That will all be identified when
we announce our report to the 30 mayors and presidents of local governments. We
will bring them back in when we reply to the Robson report. We will go through
that process, keeping in mind, member, that the Robson report contains 30 recommendations—only
one is a map—that will affect local governments all over the state.
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