Report urges Greater Hobart, amalgamations

Release of Independent Panel report

The Southern Tasmanian Councils Authority (STCA), has received the final report of the Independent Panel looking into future options for Local Government in Southern Tasmania.

“The STCA Board sees the recommendations in this report as a starting point for a discussion with elected members of the 12 Councils and the community of Southern Tasmania about the future of Local Government in our region.” said Damon Thomas, newly appointed Chair of the STCA.

“If local government is to change it needs to do so for the right reasons, that benefit the region and the people who live and visit here.” he said.

“Elected members know that there are many people in our communities that are concerned with the rising cost of living. Arguments based on reductions in costs, including reducing council rates, are often very compelling when people are doing it tough. People want value for money for their rates. This is an important consideration for councils, but not the only one if we are going to change the structure of local government in Southern Tasmania.”

“The Independent Panel’s Report gives us a series of recommendations that challenge us to build a stronger local government, with more accountability and more sustainability, while recognising the critical and complex role that local governments play in our communities.” said Alderman Thomas.

The report has recommended the creation of a Greater Hobart, bringing together the urban areas of Hobart, Glenorchy, Clarence, Brighton and Kingborough. It also recognises the different role that urban and rural councils play in their communities. It clearly recognises the interdependent relationship between the smaller, rural councils and the urban centre.

The panel has also made recommendations about full council elections every four years, compulsory voting and a removal of the requirement for mayors to have previously served in local government.

“The Independent Panel did not just look at the issue of Council amalgamation, it looked at how to make a better local government in Southern Tasmania. It looked at governance issues, the issue of the skills of elected members and community engagement. There are a lot of things in this report for elected members to discuss with their councils, their communities and with each other.” said Ald Thomas.

Read the report for yourself: Future Options: The Final Report, HERE

• What the Greens say: Greens welcome compulsory voting call for local government

• Mary Massina

Amalgamations on the way for the South

With the welcome release of the Southern Tasmanian Councils Authority (STCA) report into future
options for local government, Tasmanians for Reform is calling on councils in the North and North
West to follow the lead of their southern colleagues.

Tasmanians for Reform (TFR) is the largest coalition of peak bodies in Tasmanian history,
comprising 21 community and business organisations.

TFR spokesperson Mary Massina said with amalgamations a fait accompli in the South, it was vital
that the same independent review was conducted in the North and North West of the State.

“Amalgamations are going to happen in the South so the acid is now on the North and North West
councils to demonstrate leadership and conduct similar reviews, so that the State as a whole can
deal with the issue of local government reform,” Ms Massina said.

Ms Massina also welcomed the report’s recommendation to look at further appropriate reform
options for non-metropolitan councils so the door for further reform was not closed.

“It is essential that all 120 local government elected members in the South support this report and
as a next step, clearly indicate the savings that can be made from reform, given we know that up to
35 per cent efficiency gains can be achieved if reform is implemented properly,” she said.

“Further, it is important for councillors to be involved in the reform process, which is why just last
week TFR issued a survey to all 281 councillors across the State, asking them to put on public
record their position on reform.

“We know from the recent EMRS survey, that the majority of the Tasmanian community (69 per
cent) wants local government reform, and now in light of the STCA report the pressure is on to
ensure that reform is delivered in the South, and that the North and North West come on board.”

First published: 2011-11-14 05:00 PM

• GREENS MOVE ON COMPULSORY VOTING IN LOCAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS
In Line with Independent Review’s Recommendation

Tim Morris MP
Greens Local Government spokesperson

The Tasmanian Greens today said that while the Independent Review of Structures for Local Governance & Service Delivery in Southern Tasmania report contains many recommendations which will require further public consultation, its recommendation for the introduction of compulsory voting in local council elections can be progressed separately.

Greens Local Government spokesperson, Tim Morris MP said that he will be bringing on for debate this week the Greens’ proposal for local government compulsory voting to be examined by a parliamentary committee in time for its introduction by the next round of local council elections due in October 2013.

“Clearly there are many matters being considered under the broad umbrella of local government reform, just as the range and complexity of many of the recommendations contained in the Independent Review of Structures for Local Governance & Service Delivery in Southern Tasmania report, and these warrant serious analysis and community discussion,” Mr Morris said.

“However, one key stand-alone area is the report’s recommendation that compulsory voting for local council elections is introduced.”

“The Greens will be bringing on for debate during our Private Members Time on Wednesday this week, our motion to have the matters of local council compulsory voting be examined by the Parliamentary Committee for Community Development, in time for its implementation by the October 2013 local government elections.”

“As compulsory voting at this important grassroots tier of government is the policy position of both the Greens and Labor respectively, we are hopeful we can start the process of its introduction via this mechanism.”

“The Greens welcome the Independent Review report and we call on the Minister for Local Government to work with the local government sector, the community and other stakeholders to develop an appropriate consultation process by which to address the remainder of the report’s recommendations.”