❓ Mr. Kelly questions the Minister for Local Government regarding the costs associated with failed local government amalgamation processes, seeking an apology and reimbursement for affected councils. The Minister deflects blame, stating the proposals originated from the local councils themselves.
AnsweredQoN 13Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
LOCAL GOVERNMENT — AMALGAMATIONS —
COST
13. Mr D.J. KELLY to the Minister for
Local Government:
I refer the Minister for Local
Government to comments made by the Premier that the state government's
local government amalgamation process was a shambles, that it had failed, that
the Premier had put up the white flag and, finally, that the Governor's
orders were to be rescinded.
(1) Will the
minister now apologise to the residents of the three local governments that
represent my electorate for the mayhem and confusion he has caused through his
incompetent handling of local government issues?
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Treasurer, I call you to order for the first time. I want to hear these
questions in silence.
Mr D.J. KELLY : I continue —
(2) Will the
minister now reimburse the City of Swan $2.2 million, the City of Bayswater $1 million
and the Town of Bassendean $200 000 for all the wasted resources they have
expended on his failed process?
COST
13. Mr D.J. KELLY to the Minister for
Local Government:
I refer the Minister for Local
Government to comments made by the Premier that the state government's
local government amalgamation process was a shambles, that it had failed, that
the Premier had put up the white flag and, finally, that the Governor's
orders were to be rescinded.
(1) Will the
minister now apologise to the residents of the three local governments that
represent my electorate for the mayhem and confusion he has caused through his
incompetent handling of local government issues?
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Treasurer, I call you to order for the first time. I want to hear these
questions in silence.
Mr D.J. KELLY : I continue —
(2) Will the
minister now reimburse the City of Swan $2.2 million, the City of Bayswater $1 million
and the Town of Bassendean $200 000 for all the wasted resources they have
expended on his failed process?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
am a bit confused here. Let us understand one thing: I put 12 proposals to the
Local Government Advisory Board. It had 38 proposals, and all the proposals
that came back to the advisory board that were adopted were all theirs, except
for one. The ones the member is talking about were actually their proposals. Of
those that were advertised, 30 000 submissions and their own proposals —
Several
members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean, you have asked a question. Let the minister
answer the question.
Mr
A.J. SIMPSON : The advisory board advertised 30 000 submissions. Did the
local government go out and talk to those people in the neighbourhood the
member is talking about and say that the government was doing a reform process,
that the local government was going to be part of it, and that it was going to
put in a proposal; and did it ask residents what they thought the local
government should do? It never consulted them then, did it? No, it just made it
up, voted for it in council and put the proposal to the advisory board. It was
the local government's proposal and it went through a process. It came
to the advisory board, and that is the local government.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Bassendean!
am a bit confused here. Let us understand one thing: I put 12 proposals to the
Local Government Advisory Board. It had 38 proposals, and all the proposals
that came back to the advisory board that were adopted were all theirs, except
for one. The ones the member is talking about were actually their proposals. Of
those that were advertised, 30 000 submissions and their own proposals —
Several
members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean, you have asked a question. Let the minister
answer the question.
Mr
A.J. SIMPSON : The advisory board advertised 30 000 submissions. Did the
local government go out and talk to those people in the neighbourhood the
member is talking about and say that the government was doing a reform process,
that the local government was going to be part of it, and that it was going to
put in a proposal; and did it ask residents what they thought the local
government should do? It never consulted them then, did it? No, it just made it
up, voted for it in council and put the proposal to the advisory board. It was
the local government's proposal and it went through a process. It came
to the advisory board, and that is the local government.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Bassendean!
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