LNP responds to ongoing boundary review
The Shadow Minister raised the question of who will be disadvantaged by the controversial dispute over which council Glenlee, Glendale and Rockyview should be with.
Rockhampton
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The Liberal National Party has revealed its stance on the ongoing boundary review between Rockhampton and Livingstone.
Local Government Shadow Minister Ann Leahy’s view is that the boundary review is about politics, rather than the residents of the two local government areas.
“Given Labor’s frequent stuff ups in the local government sector and the lack of agreement between the councils, the big question that must be answered here is who was [Stirling Hinchliffe] seeking to politically disadvantage with this referral to the Change Commissioner,” Ms Leahy said.
She accused the state Labor government of repeatedly manipulating the local government sector for its own advantage.
“Labor redrew electoral laws to deliberately stop mayors and councillors running as candidates at the State Election,” she said.
“The resignation of the Rockhampton mayor [Margaret Strelow] in 2020 clearly shows the State Government is losing control of it’s handle on local government in the state.
“The former Local Government Minister’s claim that both councils supported the proposal to change the boundaries is untrue.
“Eventually he had to fall on his sword amid a raft of Local Government scandals.”
The Morning Bulletin reached out to the current minister for local government Steven Miles for comment on Ms Leahy’s claims, but got a response from a department spokesperson.
“The proposed boundary realignment is with the independent Change Commission for review,” the spokesperson said.
“How long the review takes is a matter for the Change Commission.
“Before any boundary change can be made, the proposal would need to show that it has the support of the community, the support of the local governments involved, and that both local governments will remain financially sustainable.”
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