Mr. Templeman questions the affordability and planning of local government amalgamations. Minister Simpson defends the process, citing potential savings from reduced executive positions and asset management.

AnsweredQoN 337Legislative Assembly
Asked
13 May 2014
Portfolio
Local Government

QuestionView source ↗

LOCAL
GOVERNMENT — AMALGAMATIONS — FUNDING
337. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN to the
Minister for Local Government:
I have a supplementary question. The minister did not answer
the second part of the question but I will ask another one: is this not an
admission that the minister's amalgamation process is very much poorly
planned and simply unaffordable?

AnswerView source ↗

Not at all. There will be some very good savings out of the
reform process —
Mr D.A. Templeman :
Name them!
Mr A.J. SIMPSON :
Where does the member want me to go? If we go to the western suburbs, how about
six chief executive officers costing $2 million a year! Let us go through the
asset base of every local government that has a grader, a truck, a water truck
and lawnmowers. Where does the member want me to start? The asset management
base is huge. There are a lot of cost savings there.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Pilbara, I call you to order for the second time. I cannot hear the
minister.
Mr A.J. SIMPSON : I
think the important part here is that reform is happening; it is on its way. We
are just working through the nuts and bolts at the moment. I am confident we
can get a really good outcome in July with the announcement. I am confident we
can actually get better services for our ratepayers.

Explore WA Government Data

Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.

Explore more