Cut councils to three, says TCCI’s Michael Bailey

Tasmanian business has called for radical change to local government.

Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Michael Bailey has renewed calls for council mergers. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

TASMANIA’S 29 councils should be cut to just three, the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has declared.

TCCI chief executive Michael Bailey says the current number is inefficient and doesn’t represent best practice.

Mr Bailey has called on the Liberal State Government and Labor Opposition to bite the bullet and reform local government.

“The days have gone when every town in Tasmania needed a local council and it is time to ensure there is more transparency in the sector,” he has told the TCCI’s Tasmanian Business Reporter.

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Tasmania had 263 councillors and 4000 local government employees, Mr Bailey said.

He said over-government and duplication could be costing the state hundreds of millions of dollars each year.

Rate rises, like Glenorchy’s 12.5 per cent increase, regularly exceeded the consumer price index, Mr Bailey said.

“Consumers and business are being gouged and it is time to hold local government to account,” Mr Bailey said.

“We are concerned that the clumsy micro management of our state is preventing strategic, whole-of-region/state planning for infrastructure and service provision.”

Little had happened since Local Government Minister Peter Gutwein calling for reform during the Hodgman Government’s first term, Mr Bailey said.

“Local government has blown its chances and, despite being given the opportunity to do it for themselves, has demonstrated it is too self-interested to act on behalf of the people it represents,” he said.

The TCCI supports State Parliament’s House of Assembly increasing from 25 to 35 members.