Prime Minister must end his silence on forced council amalgamations
14th February, 2008
The Member for Wide Bay, Warren Truss, has called on the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, to intervene and halt the forced amalgamations of local councils in Queensland.
Speaking in Federal Parliament to the Governor-General’s Opening Address, Mr Truss said that before the election Mr Rudd spoke out against forced amalgamations and supported the Coalition Government’s legislation to enable the Australian Electoral Commission to conduct plebiscites on the issue.
“Since he was elected as Prime Minister, Mr Rudd has been strangely silent on the issue. It is clear that he has done nothing to persuade the State Labor Government to abandon its undemocratic plans,” Mr Truss said.
“Queensland has voted overwhelmingly against the amalgamations in the plebiscites. In 10 shires, there were less than 10 ‘yes’ votes and there were massive ‘no’ majorities in the Wide Bay region.
“The people have spoken, and spoken decisively. If Labor has any respect for democracy, it will act now to abandon forced council amalgamations.
“If Mr Rudd is not prepared to act, it is clear evidence that his words before the election were empty and he does not have the courage to stand up to a Labor premier.
“He said one thing to get elected, and now in office he does the opposite,” Mr Truss said.
