Over 700,000 demand a say on forced council amalgamations

24th September 2007Over 700,000 people and 87 Councils have demanded a say on forced
council amalgamations by engaging the Australian Electoral Commission
(AEC) to conduct plebiscites of electors in their area, Shadow Minister
for Main Roads and Local Government, Howard Hobbs said today.

“Councils affected by amalgamations, from the Torres Strait to
Stanthorpe, have asked for a plebiscite as have urban Councils such as
Caboolture, Pine Rivers and Redcliffe,” Mr Hobbs said.  (Full List of
Councils attached)

“The response from the communities and their councils who want to have a
say on the Bligh Labor Government’s forced council amalgamations is
overwhelming,” Mr Hobbs said.

“Under the State Labor government they faced the outrageous situation
where if councillors sought to undertake their own polls of electors
they faced the sack.

“The Prime Minister’s intervention has now ensured that councils and
people will have a say on what happens to their community through the
AEC without the threat of fines or dismissal.”

Mr Hobbs said the following question would be put to the electors by the
AEC in each respective council area:

Do you support the Queensland Government’s decision to amalgamate your
Council with other Council areas?

“Electors will be informed of the plebiscite. Every elector will have
one vote and electors will be provided with a reasonable opportunity to
vote through a full postal ballot,” Mr Hobbs said.

“The ballot will be secret and scrutineers can be appointed,” he said.

Mr Hobbs said in the far West, Councils who have not been affected by
boundary changes, have expressed a desire and may participate in future
plebiscites of their electors because of other changes that have
occurred to divisions and councillor numbers.

Mr Hobbs said the non-boundary affected Councils have indicated that
they will defer their request to the AEC until after the 87 Councils
have conducted their plebiscites.

Media Contact – Howard Hobbs Ph 4622 8888

Councils that have passed the necessary resolution for a plebiscite
Council Number of Electors at the 2004 Queensland Local
Government Elections
1 Aramac 519
2 Atherton 7174
3 Barcaldine 1100
4 Bendemere 676
5 Biggenden 1120
6 Blackall 1212
7 Booringa 1275
8 Broadsound 3794
9 Bungil 1424
10 Caboolture 78767
11 Caloundra 54877
12 Cambooya 3554
13 Charters Towers 4856
14 Chinchilla 4033
15 Clifton 1778
16 Cooloola 23225
17 Crows Nest 7593
18 Dauan Island 95
19 Douglas 6270
20 Eacham 4247
21 Eidsvold 635
22 Emerald 7717
23 Erub Island 213
24 Fitzroy 6520
25 Hammond Island 122
26 Herberton 3219
27 Iama Community 214
28 Ilfracombe 212
29 Inglewood 1878
30 Isis 4098
31 Isisford 194
32 Jericho 642
33 Kilkivan 2350
34 Kolan 2914
35 Kubin Island 118
36 Laidley 1556
37 Livingstone 17694
38 Longreach 2422
39 Mabuiag Island 147
40 Mareeba 11182
41 Mer Island 342
42 Millmerran 2039
43 Miriam Vale 3103
44 Mundubbera 1430
45 Murgon 2300
46 Murilla 1851
47 Nanango 5844
48 Nebo 1201
49 Noosa 30470
50 Peak Downs 1731
51 Perry 304
52 Pine Rivers 86184
53 Pittsworth 3042
54 Redcliffe 34540
55 Rosalie 5851
56 Seisa Island 106
57 St Pauls Island 175
58 Stanthorpe 7148
59 Tambo 441
60 Tara 2478
61 Taroom 1853
62 Tiaro 1198
63 Wambo 3663
64 Warwick 14454
65 Whitsunday 9366
66 Wondai 2864

Councils that will be passing the resolution by 28 September 2007 for a
plebiscite
Council Number of Electors at the 2004 Queensland Local
Government Elections
1 Banana 8752
2 Beaudesert 35731
3 Belyando 5966
4 Boonah 5970
5 Burnett 16777
6 Duaringa 3880
7 Gayndah 1907
8 Jondaryan 8747
9 Monto 1864
10 Sarina 6609
11 Warroo 758
12 Bowen 7856
13 Badu Island 464
14 Boigu Island 193
15 Poruma Island 118
16 Saibai Island 217
17 Ugar Island 47
18 Warraber Island 147
19 Yorke Island 210
20 Kilcoy 2232
21 Kingaroy 7899