An independent survey of southern Tasmanian ratepayers has found a clear majority support a
proposal to create a Greater Hobart Council.
The news comes as a meeting by the Southern Tasmanian Councils Authority has been called to
consider the findings of a $300,000 taxpayer and ratepayer funded report which recommended the
merging of Hobart, Glenorchy, Brighton, Kingborough and parts of Clarence.
While most Councils involved have agreed they need to merge, none have come out in support of
taking action on recommendations put in a $300,000 ratepayer and taxpayer funded report put
forward by one of the nation’s most respected economists Saul Estlake, along with long term local
government managers, Jude Munro and Stephen Hains.
When asked if they supported a Southern Tasmanian Councils Authority report that called for the
creation of a Greater Hobart Council, some 65 per cent of respondents agreed, while only 22 per
cent rejected the notion and a further 13 per cent said they were unsure.
Furthermore, some 69 per cent of people asked believed there would be savings provided by
Council mergers, while 19 per cent said there would not be savings and some 11 per cent said they
were unsure.
Tasmanians for Reform spokeswoman Mary Massina said Premier Giddings indicated she would be
guided by local government on reform.
“Now with a majority of people and councils in the south supporting mergers, the time has come to
show leadership and do something about it,” Ms Massina said.
“Only recently the State Government has announced the merger of Transend with Aurora and
before that it was the creation of a single water corporation and in both cases the millions of dollars
of savings was sighted as the reason for this to occur.
“If the Premier was unwilling to act, she should explain to the Tasmanian community why their rates
and charges continue to spiral upwards at over eight per cent each year despite council’s own report
which shows savings of 15 per cent in service delivery alone.”
Tasmanians for Reform spokeswoman Mary Massina
