Tasmanias local government members have been challenged to outline their response to calls for
local government reform while they in one place at this year’s Local Government Association of
Tasmania conference.

Tasmanians for Reform today took out a full page advertisement to highlight to conference
delegates the increasing community support for the need for council amalgamations.

Tasmanians for Reform Chairwoman, Mary Massina said Tasmanians for Reform was the largest
coalition of peak organisations to come together in the call for local government reform.

“This is not a proposition to eradicate local government, it is actually a proposition to greatly
improve the role of this tier of government in Tasmania,” Ms Massina said.

“It is not only the state’s peak organisations that have added their voice to the call for reform, but
just as importantly the wider Tasmania community, with three quarters of Tasmanians agreeing that
29 councils for a population of just over 500,000 is too many.

“Given the economic challenges the State is facing, now is the opportunity for local government to
do something about reform.

“The state and federal governments have pulled their belts in, yet local government rates and
annual charges continue to grow at over 8.4 per cent each year.

“The community wants reform, the Tasmanian economy needs it and local government knows it has
to happen.”

Ms Massina said the response by local government to the campaign had been disappointing to say
the least.

“Tasmanians for Reform believes council amalgamations will achieve better services, improved
capacity and even cheaper rates, yet every turn local government continues to put its head in the
sand and attack the campaign instead of dealing with the issues.

“Even the councils’ own report supports this, with a Southern Tasmanian Councils Authority
investigation stating the creation of a Greater Hobart Council would lead to efficiency gains of up to
15 per cent in service provision alone.”

Ms Massina said the annual conference provided the ideal opportunity for local government to
show some maturity in this debate and accept the community’s call for action.
Mary Massina, Tasmanians for Reform