THE State Government’s attack on local government and its crass attempt to take over TasWater should also be seen as the latest move to do the bidding of its Property Council masters and force council amalgamations.
Premier Will Hodgman has proudly stated that his Government would not force amalgamations, but by reducing council distributions from TasWater, rates will rise and some councils will become unsustainable — therefore forcing them to amalgamate.
The takeover push for TasWater being driven by Treasurer Peter Gutwein is based on spin and very few facts.
Perhaps the same can be said about the Government’s “no forced amalgamations” promise?
It is worth examining the tactics to date.
Firstly, at every opportunity it has trashed local government, criticised councils and undervalued their service and importance to the community.
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Perhaps this is the Treasurer’s true agenda and it certainly conforms with that of his masters in the big end of town, particularly the Property Council.
Of course, the biggest piece of spin is that we have a water and sewerage crisis and that Tasmania’s image is suffering because of this …
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Tony Foster, Mercury
