❓ Opposition questions the Premier on forced council amalgamations, citing conflicting statements. Premier denies forced amalgamations, challenges the opposition to provide an example, and defends the government's policy of reducing the number of local governments.
AnsweredQoN 75Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
LOCAL GOVERNMENT — AMALGAMATIONS
75. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Premier:
I refer to the comments made yesterday by Hon Simon O'Brien,
who admonished this government's dishonesty in relation to forced
council amalgamations and said —
It is rubbish to say that there
are no forced amalgamations.
It is to the discredit of this
government that it has peddled that line because it is absolute tripe.
(1) Does the
Premier agree with the comments made by Hon Simon O'Brien —
Mr C.J. Barnett :
What do you reckon?
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : You
might tell him to get a life, Premier —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Wanneroo, I formally call you to order for the first time.
Ms M.M. Quirk : He's
a recidivist!
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen, I will pretend I never heard you.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I
will repeat the question.
(1) Does the
Premier agree with the comments made by Hon Simon O'Brien that the
Premier's misuse of language has been ''disingenuous''?
(2) Will the
Premier now finally concede that he has, at the very least, misled the people
of Western Australia over his policy of forced council amalgamations?
75. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Premier:
I refer to the comments made yesterday by Hon Simon O'Brien,
who admonished this government's dishonesty in relation to forced
council amalgamations and said —
It is rubbish to say that there
are no forced amalgamations.
It is to the discredit of this
government that it has peddled that line because it is absolute tripe.
(1) Does the
Premier agree with the comments made by Hon Simon O'Brien —
Mr C.J. Barnett :
What do you reckon?
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : You
might tell him to get a life, Premier —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Wanneroo, I formally call you to order for the first time.
Ms M.M. Quirk : He's
a recidivist!
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen, I will pretend I never heard you.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I
will repeat the question.
(1) Does the
Premier agree with the comments made by Hon Simon O'Brien that the
Premier's misuse of language has been ''disingenuous''?
(2) Will the
Premier now finally concede that he has, at the very least, misled the people
of Western Australia over his policy of forced council amalgamations?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
Has there been a forced amalgamation? No, there has not.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The Minister for Local Government behind me said, ''Name one''.
There are 30 local governments in the Perth metropolitan area; if there are
forced amalgamations, name one and I will respond to it.
Mr M. McGowan : You
said that you are halving them? Are you not doing that?
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Name a forced amalgamation. Give me something to work with.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Right! Premier, through the Chair, thank you.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
note for the public record that despite the question from the Leader of the
Opposition, no-one opposite can name a forced amalgamation because there have
not been any.
Mr W.J. Johnston :
Canning!
The SPEAKER :
Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Canning has administrators in for good reason—a
commissioner.
Mr W.J. Johnston interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Cannington!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The government has said that its objective is to reduce the number of local
governments in metropolitan Perth from 30 to around 15. Indeed, several years
ago the Western Australian Local Government Association made a similar comment
when it produced a report on the viability and sustainability of local
government in the metropolitan area. It is self-evident that we should reduce
the number of local authorities to around half of what it is, and local
government understands that. As the minister said in response to a question
yesterday or the day before, the proposals have been put in by local
authorities; they are talking to each other. Sure, there are a lot of vested
interests, and a lot of councillors might think they could lose their
positions; I do not know. But most of the vitriol has come from councillors or
people with direct interests. I do not mind them expressing their view, but the
comments made by Hon Simon O'Brien and a previous member relate
principally to the proposed merger of the City of South Perth and the Town of
Victoria Park and what would happen to the Burswood peninsula, the casino and
the site of the new football stadium.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
am trying to answer the question. I understand that and I understand there are
issues with that. However, I met with the mayors of both Victoria Park and
South Perth, probably in early January, before I took leave, and they indicated
very clearly that they wanted to merge, but there was —
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : Subject to the peninsula staying within the boundaries. Don't
be disingenuous.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the
first time today.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The member for Victoria Park is right; the mayors indicated
that they wished to merge and wanted to get on with it, but the issue related
to Burswood and, in particular, the loss of significant rate revenue from the
casino. I accept that; it is a real consideration.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : It
is.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Exactly. We had a discussion around that and I proposed to them a transition
arrangement that would probably satisfy them on that, and they left the room
happy.
Several members interjected.
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
We will wait for the report from the Local Government Advisory Board, but we
may negotiate a transition arrangement with the Burswood peninsula. Members in
the upper house made the point that the river is a natural barrier, but it is
not the only criteria for where boundaries should go. Economic factors,
community of interests, the vibrancy of a capital city and all those things
matter as well. The government's policy is that key pieces of
infrastructure and key iconic venues for the City of Perth should be under a
City of Perth governance arrangement. Therefore, the casino is the most
attended tourist and entertainment venue in the state. The stadium will be the
premier sporting facility and will obviously be used for large concerts and the
like. Our view is that they should be within the City of Perth. The transition
arrangements, I think, will be satisfactory. We will wait until we receive the
report from the Local Government Advisory Board. Similarly, I, and the minister
in particular, will deal with individual councils and their arrangements. Lots
of issues are involved, but just as this government has worked through many
other issues, we will progressively work through this one and then, one by one,
amalgamations, mergers or whatever people want to call them, will take place.
Has there been a forced amalgamation? No, there has not.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The Minister for Local Government behind me said, ''Name one''.
There are 30 local governments in the Perth metropolitan area; if there are
forced amalgamations, name one and I will respond to it.
Mr M. McGowan : You
said that you are halving them? Are you not doing that?
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Name a forced amalgamation. Give me something to work with.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Right! Premier, through the Chair, thank you.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
note for the public record that despite the question from the Leader of the
Opposition, no-one opposite can name a forced amalgamation because there have
not been any.
Mr W.J. Johnston :
Canning!
The SPEAKER :
Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Canning has administrators in for good reason—a
commissioner.
Mr W.J. Johnston interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Cannington!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The government has said that its objective is to reduce the number of local
governments in metropolitan Perth from 30 to around 15. Indeed, several years
ago the Western Australian Local Government Association made a similar comment
when it produced a report on the viability and sustainability of local
government in the metropolitan area. It is self-evident that we should reduce
the number of local authorities to around half of what it is, and local
government understands that. As the minister said in response to a question
yesterday or the day before, the proposals have been put in by local
authorities; they are talking to each other. Sure, there are a lot of vested
interests, and a lot of councillors might think they could lose their
positions; I do not know. But most of the vitriol has come from councillors or
people with direct interests. I do not mind them expressing their view, but the
comments made by Hon Simon O'Brien and a previous member relate
principally to the proposed merger of the City of South Perth and the Town of
Victoria Park and what would happen to the Burswood peninsula, the casino and
the site of the new football stadium.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
am trying to answer the question. I understand that and I understand there are
issues with that. However, I met with the mayors of both Victoria Park and
South Perth, probably in early January, before I took leave, and they indicated
very clearly that they wanted to merge, but there was —
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : Subject to the peninsula staying within the boundaries. Don't
be disingenuous.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the
first time today.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The member for Victoria Park is right; the mayors indicated
that they wished to merge and wanted to get on with it, but the issue related
to Burswood and, in particular, the loss of significant rate revenue from the
casino. I accept that; it is a real consideration.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : It
is.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Exactly. We had a discussion around that and I proposed to them a transition
arrangement that would probably satisfy them on that, and they left the room
happy.
Several members interjected.
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
We will wait for the report from the Local Government Advisory Board, but we
may negotiate a transition arrangement with the Burswood peninsula. Members in
the upper house made the point that the river is a natural barrier, but it is
not the only criteria for where boundaries should go. Economic factors,
community of interests, the vibrancy of a capital city and all those things
matter as well. The government's policy is that key pieces of
infrastructure and key iconic venues for the City of Perth should be under a
City of Perth governance arrangement. Therefore, the casino is the most
attended tourist and entertainment venue in the state. The stadium will be the
premier sporting facility and will obviously be used for large concerts and the
like. Our view is that they should be within the City of Perth. The transition
arrangements, I think, will be satisfactory. We will wait until we receive the
report from the Local Government Advisory Board. Similarly, I, and the minister
in particular, will deal with individual councils and their arrangements. Lots
of issues are involved, but just as this government has worked through many
other issues, we will progressively work through this one and then, one by one,
amalgamations, mergers or whatever people want to call them, will take place.
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