❓ Opposition questions the Minister for Local Government about the cost and timeline of council amalgamations, given the state's projected deficits. The Minister assures an announcement is coming soon and funding is available, drawing comparisons to NSW reforms.
AnsweredQoN 799Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
LOCAL GOVERNMENT — AMALGAMATIONS
799. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN to the Minister for Local Government:
I refer to the Premier's comments that the state will
probably be forced into large deficits.
(1) How can
the minister justify pushing ahead with council amalgamations that will cost
approximately $100 million when he does not even have a business case for this
proposal?
(2) If the
minister is pushing ahead with these reforms, when will he put the sector out
of its misery and actually announce the new council boundaries for the
metropolitan area?
799. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN to the Minister for Local Government:
I refer to the Premier's comments that the state will
probably be forced into large deficits.
(1) How can
the minister justify pushing ahead with council amalgamations that will cost
approximately $100 million when he does not even have a business case for this
proposal?
(2) If the
minister is pushing ahead with these reforms, when will he put the sector out
of its misery and actually announce the new council boundaries for the
metropolitan area?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
I thank the member for the question. The announcement will be in due course—very
soon. I am working through a 750-page report. In Adelaide at the moment is a
conference —
Several
members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, thank you! I am very
interested in this answer.
Mr A.J. SIMPSON : For members' information,
currently in Adelaide there is an outer metropolitan growth conference
happening. I have eight mayors, presidents and councillors away this week —
Dr A.D. Buti interjected.
Mr A.J. SIMPSON : We are still working through the
process of trying to put it together. There will be an announcement very soon.
I will work through that process very soon. The member asked about the funding
of this reform process. To understand where we sit at the moment, recently New
South Wales announced a reform package. There was $58 million in that for the
reform process—$200 million in total. If members were to look at $58 million
divided by 7.5 million ratepayers, and then divide that by the number of local
governments, it will come out with a process of about $3.7 million per new
entity born. We have $3.7 million on the table as well; the same ballpark
figure. The money is on the table. It is in this year's budget. I have
already had talks with the sector. They are keen to bring on the loan
perspective earlier. We are working with them to try to get that brought on a
bit sooner. The sector is very much ready for this reform process. Like us,
they are anxiously awaiting the announcement.
I thank the member for the question. The announcement will be in due course—very
soon. I am working through a 750-page report. In Adelaide at the moment is a
conference —
Several
members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, thank you! I am very
interested in this answer.
Mr A.J. SIMPSON : For members' information,
currently in Adelaide there is an outer metropolitan growth conference
happening. I have eight mayors, presidents and councillors away this week —
Dr A.D. Buti interjected.
Mr A.J. SIMPSON : We are still working through the
process of trying to put it together. There will be an announcement very soon.
I will work through that process very soon. The member asked about the funding
of this reform process. To understand where we sit at the moment, recently New
South Wales announced a reform package. There was $58 million in that for the
reform process—$200 million in total. If members were to look at $58 million
divided by 7.5 million ratepayers, and then divide that by the number of local
governments, it will come out with a process of about $3.7 million per new
entity born. We have $3.7 million on the table as well; the same ballpark
figure. The money is on the table. It is in this year's budget. I have
already had talks with the sector. They are keen to bring on the loan
perspective earlier. We are working with them to try to get that brought on a
bit sooner. The sector is very much ready for this reform process. Like us,
they are anxiously awaiting the announcement.
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