Call for ALP rank and file to support council mergers

Tasmanians for Reform is calling on rank and file members of the ALP to support the Northern Central
Policy Branch motion, urging Local Government Reform through the appropriate Council mergers at
this weekend’s ALP conference.

The move reflects the desire of the Tasmanian community for the State Government to take leadership
on the issue of local government reform in order to improve efficiencies and services for ratepayers
around the State.

Tasmanians for Reform Chairperson, Mary Massina, said the motion is a progressive step towards
what the Tasmanian people want to see from their Labor Government.

“The motion to achieve efficiencies by up to 35 per cent is supported by a number of surveys and
reports that have been undertaken highlighting the support of Tasmanians for action on council
mergers, including Council’s own $300,000 ratepayer funded report,” Ms Massina said.

“The motion states that 29 councils and 281 councillors is not necessary for the 506,000 people and
constituents in Tasmania and is nothing but a waste of ratepayer funds and scarce resources.

“It certainly demonstrates that within the ALP there is strong support from members for the reform as
they can see the huge financial and social benefit it would bring to Tasmanians and to the economy.”

If motion is passed is passed the ALP would recognise that structural reform of the councils is
necessary and would provide better services and potentially cheaper rates.

“Hobart City Council alone has recently come out and stated that they are not financially viable in their
current situation, we are seeing services cut and rates increased, yet more and more money is being
wasted unnecessarily,” Ms Massina said.

“The current local government structure isn’t working. That has been recognised by both the community
and councils themselves, yet we are not seeing any leadership by either Local or State Government to
change the status quo.

“Tasmanians for Reform is 100 per cent behind this motion and calls for Labor’s rank and file to support
the motion as a positive step for Tasmanian ratepayers.”
Tasmanians for Reform spokesperson, Mary Massina