FEBRUARY 2024
Australia’s National Local Government Newspaper
Time for action Cockburn Council has just endorsed its latest Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2023-25, approved just before Christmas, is the council’s fourth RAP since it became the first Perth LGA to put one in train back in 2011. The plan outlines specific actions to guide the City as it gains a deeper understanding of its sphere of influence and establishes the best ways to advance reconciliation. The RAP cover page features a painting by Cockburn resident and artist Kathleen Sherie who grew up on Beeliar Boodja and has connections to Minang/Goreng Country in southwest Western Australia, through her grandmother. Story page 19
City of Cockburn CEO Daniel Simms, Beeliar Boodja artist Kathleen Sherie, City of Cockburn Mayor Logan Howlett and City of Cockburn Community Development Manager Fiona Gardener at Bibra Lake. They are pictured with Kathleen’s original artwork, which appears on the City’s Reconciliation Action Plan 2023-2025.
Councils cop cost New Council De-amalgamation legislation introduced into NSW Parliament on 6 February has been met with opposition from the Local Government Association of NSW and is being watched cautiously by the people of Cootamundra-Junee - the first council to start the process. Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said the legislation would “remove a major roadblock to council de-amalgamations and ensure local democracy is enshrined in the decision-making process”. LGNSW president Cr Darriea Turley said the NSW Government’s decision not to fund council de-amalgamation would make it “virtually impossible for councils wishing to deamalgamate”. Meanwhile NSW member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke has called for an urgent briefing with the Local Government Minister. The Minister said the amendments to the Local Government Act 1993, introduced to Parliament, will provide a new legal pathway for NSW councils seeking to demerge, including those that already have de-amalgamation proposals under consideration. The amendments repeal the legally flawed section 218CC of the Act and replaces it with a clear and democratic process, the government said. This follows years of failed policy making by the former government that left councils across NSW in limbo and failed to take into account
the budgetary impacts for NSW taxpayers on proposed de-amalgamations, the government said. Under the changes, councils wishing to deamalgamate must develop a robust business case upfront. This must consider the financial impacts and council’s ability to fund de-amalgamation, long-term strategic plans and the service delivery capacity of the new demerged councils. Councils will also be required to undertake community consultation on the business case. Upon receipt from a Council, the Minister must forward a business case to the NSW Local Government Boundaries Commission. Following a subsequent independent review by the NSW Local Government Boundaries Commission, the Minister may then approve a constitutional referendum with a compulsory vote, which would require majority support from local electors to proceed with a de-amalgamation. In addition, the Government’s Bill provides transition arrangements for councils which have already been approved for demerger by the Minister.
Cr Turley said it was very disappointing that councils should have to carry the financial burden of unravelling amalgamated councils which were forced on the community by the previous Coalition Government. “Our communities did not want these amalgamations which were foisted on them, yet now they are being expected to pay to return to the former status quo,” Cr Turley said. “This is sleight of hand by the new State Government which knows that councils do not have the tens of millions of dollars required to de-amalgamate. “It’s a cunning public relations exercise by the State Government so that it looks good in the eyes of ratepayers by agreeing to allow deamalgamations, while at the same time knowing councils cannot foot the bill to carry them out.” She said de-amalgamating the larger councils may cost as much as $150 million, money which councils just do not have. “The former government amalgamated 44 councils across the state in 2016, mostly against the wishes of the local communities,” Cr Turley said.
Minister Hoenig said the forced amalgamation of NSW councils was “a failed and expensive experiment”. “While the NSW Government strongly supports a clear process for councils and communities to exercise their democratic right to pursue de-amalgamation, we also have to be realistic about some of the challenges this brings,” he said. “It’s why one of my main priorities as Local Government Minister has been to find a way to remove the roadblocks posed by the existing demerger process, and give communities the opportunity to decide. “These amendments the Government has introduced provide a clear path forward for councils wishing to de-amalgamate, providing much more clarity for current and future proposals. “However, it’s essential that local democracy is enshrined in the decision-making process so that councils and communities are fully informed of the financial and other implications of de-amalgamation. Continued page 2