Alderman says let the people vote!

Alderman Johnston today has called on Local Government Minister, Bryan Green, to ensure that local government elections are held this year. “If the Minister delays the elections by a year he will be holding people’s democratic right to vote to ransom and feathering the nest of the 26 mayors who will receive more than $1million worth of additional mayoral allowances without being held to account by the ratepayers” said Ald Johnston.

“Minister Green has unveiled a raft of local government electoral reforms – none of which are guaranteed to actually pass through the parliament. Delaying an election in the hope that the reforms will be passed is at best highly speculative and would be denying ratepayers to the right to have their say at the ballot this year” Ald Johnston said.

Ald Johnston said “It is appalling that Minister Green has only consulted the 26 mayors about the timing of the election. It is obvious to the many ratepayers that I have spoken with that naturally the mayors welcome the delay – after all between them they’ll get a windfall of in excess of $1million!”.

Ald Johnston strongly urged Minister Green to announce immediately that an election will be held this year and put an end to the speculation and ratepayer concern.
Kristie Johnston Alderman Glenorchy City Council