Voluntary Council Amalgamations

The Liberal Government will shortly invite mayors from Tasmania’s 29 councils to a series of meetings around Tasmania to discuss voluntary amalgamations.

We have been clear we are not going to force amalgamations. However since becoming Local Government Minister, I’ve had informal approaches from around a dozen councils asking for a conversation on voluntary amalgamations and we are happy to have that conversation.

The Government has proposed a meeting with mayors in each of the three regions of Tasmania over the next three months. These meetings will be about discussing the process for voluntary amalgamations and developing principles to guide future discussions.

I will soon write to mayors to invite them to these meetings and outline four starting principles;

• Any change must be in the interest of rate payers;
• Any change must improve the level of services for communities;
• Any change must preserve and maintain local representation; and
• Any change must ensure that the financial status of the entities is strengthened.

My letter will also inform mayors that the Liberal Government is committed to enabling councils to have various models for resource sharing. If further resources are required, that will be considered as part of future budget processes.

There is no doubt there has been a shift in community perceptions around the need for structural reform in local government. I urge all mayors to undertake community consultation as part of this process to ensure we get good outcomes for councils and the communities they represent.

Each year, local councils in Tasmania generate $680 million of operating revenues, including $400 million in rates, spend nearly $700 million, employ almost 3,500 Tasmanians and manage infrastructure worth more than $6.5 billion.

Local councils have a vital role in supporting their communities and I look forward to meeting with mayors.
Peter Gutwein, Minister for Planning and Local Government