Shire councils give govern-ment closer to the people, doing for regions what the State can’t. Much work benefits the entire State, so Grants and Subsidies help fund it.
Broke state governments pushed duties onto councils without concomitant funding. Government regulations increased council staff-ing, overloading council resources so councils became unviable.
The Triple S program was curtailed by Beattie, who decreed amalgamations, halving the number of councils by March 2008.
People formed ‘Save Our Shires’ groups to fight this and, in 2007 plebiscites, the vast majority opposed amalgamations. This demo-cratic rebuttal was ignored. Amalgamations proceeded and cost ratepayers over $200 million.
In 2012 people welcomed the Newman Government’s deamalgamation offer. ‘Save Our Shires’ morphed to ‘Restore Our Shires’ but were advised the com-munities must pay all costs. That is neither fair nor honest. The government forced amalgamations and communities paid. The Newman Government says pay again! It’s government’s cost, whoever is in power.
Newman now says Grants and Subsidies must go.
Undo this now, or councils will be amalgamated every time the State is short a quid.
The process excluded many; others put in sub-missions, and were rejected. The minister is touring the regions attempting to convince people to accept.
A Peak Body is forming to represent communities, and ask the minister to reconsider his process, allow Queenslanders to reclaim our rural/regional autonomy.
United we stand, Divided we fall.
We want to hear from you.
RN & SJ Johnson
384 Amosfield Rd
Stanthorpe, Qld
