BY CHRIS ATKINSON
SYDNEY — Despite widespread opposition from council workers and communities, the NSW Labor government is steamrolling ahead with plans to force local councils to amalgamate at the expense of jobs, facilities and community participation.
In the leadup to the 2003 state election, the government promised it would not force any councils to amalgamate. Just nine months later, it's planning amalgamations across NSW.
For many regional centres, the plans will cost many local jobs and diminish access to already isolated local services such as childcare, libraries and emergency services.
The plan would also allow future state governments to intervene in council affairs by implanting hand-picked committees. To cap it off, the government has also inserted a clause into the bill that exempts the entire amalgamation process from any legal challenge.
The changes were expected to go before state parliament on December 4. Instead, 1500 council workers from across NSW marched on parliament to say "no" to Premier Bob Carr's drive to create bureaucratic mega-councils.
Organised by the United Services Union, the protest united mayors and council managements with residents and workers from across the state.
"Quite clearly the strategy of the state government is to divide local government and impose forced change, area by area, to prevent local government coming together as a collective in opposition", USU secretary Brian Harrris told the protest.
"Each time boundary changes or amalgamations are proposed, employees, their families and the community are thrown into turmoil about job security", Harris explained.
"We have had several members in tears over this announcement — fearful of their families' future", Harris said.
The campaign is supported by the Socialist Alliance.
"Carr's determination to ram these changes through before many councils go to the polls in March 2004 shows he's nervous about losing control over local government", the Socialist Alliance's Margaret Gleeson told Â鶹´«Ã½ Weekly.
Many of the metropolitan Labor Party-dominated councils were noticeably absent from the protest.
From Â鶹´«Ã½ Weekly, December 10, 2003.
Visit the