Local government reform
I don’t understand why the West Australian Government doesn’t just get on with the job of local government reform.
It’s another example of indecision and lack of leadership. Add it to the list with daylight saving and retail trading hours.
There are too many councils in WA, no argument.
Other states have reformed and modernised their municipal structures, but not Western Australia.
I didn’t agree with how Jeff Kennett went about it in Victoria. He merged some councils unnecessarily and inappropriately, such as the Latrobe Valley.
Traralgon was operating just fine with 25,000 people and didn’t need to be lumped in with Morwell and Moe.
A balance can be found between forced amalgamation and doing nothing.
The voluntary regional council proposed in the Goldfields is a step towards achieving that balance, but doesn’t go far enough.
Menzies doesn’t have enough ratepayers to justify its own council. Keep a “shopfront”, works depot and service centre for sure, but not a CEO and all the trimmings.
Coolgardie and Kambalda have more community of interest with Kalgoorlie than with each other, but they’re lumped together.
The problem with leaving the final decision to councils themselves is that councillors are politicians, and not many politicians vote themselves out of office.
If you leave it to communities they will be guided largely by their elected members, who are invariably hostile to giving up their positions.
That’s why the state needs to step in. The Minister should take charge and either do what she thinks best, or commission a respected consultant to make specific recommendations.
This should be done before the election so the State Government can go to voters with a policy and seek a mandate for change.
These articles might be of interest:
Tags: councils, government, Western-Australia
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