Tasmania’s Mayors, Alderman and Councillors will be called to account on their views on the need for council reform with a survey being circulated asking them to clearly state where they stand on the issue of council mergers.
The survey has been prepared by Tasmanians for Reform, when the results have been received they will be published so the public knows where their elected officials stand on the issue of local government reform.
Spokesperson for Tasmanians for Reform, Mary Massina, said with the changes in representation following the recent local government elections, it is important that the community has an understanding about where the 281 councillors sit on this important issue.
“In the lead up to local government elections we released EMRS survey results showing some 69 per cent of the community support council mergers, with many seeking office saying they support us. This is their opportunity to put their position on the public record,” Ms Massina said.
“Only this week, the Local Government Association of Tasmania indicated they wanted to work with us on this issue, so this survey will help LGAT work out where they should stand on the issue of reform.”
Ms Massina said Tasmanians for Reform was now the largest coalition of its kind in Tasmanian history, with some 21 community, business and professional organisations coming together on the need for local government reform.
“With a Deloitte Access Economics report showing efficiency gains of up to 35 per cent being achieved through council reform, the time is now to work for better services, better infrastructure and cheaper rates,” Ms Massina said.
