Merger court battle is on

5th September 2007

The state’s top judge has rejected a request by the State Government to stall a civil case brought against it by the Local Government Association stemming from the forced council amalgamations.

The case centres on a controversial amendment to the Local Government Act – fast-tracked through Parliament last month – which made it a criminal offence for councils to conduct polls on the amalgamation issue.

The State Government is currently in the proces of retracting the contentious amendment in State Parliament.

At a brief hearing in the Brisbane Supreme Court yesterday, Chief Justice Paul de Jersey set dates by which both sides had to file their material.

Source The Courier Mail (Amanda Watt)