Local Government Legislative Framework Review complete

A big decision has been made about a proposal to amalgamate several local councils to create larger regional bodies. Do you think they should combine their resources?

A PROPOSAL to create regional councils as part of a push for Tasmania to have fewer, but bigger, local government bodies has been rejected as part of a State Government reform package.

While some of the state’s 29 councils are already sharing some services with neighbouring municipalities to avoid duplication, prospects of amalgamating several councils into larger regional bodies are off the table for now.

West Tamar Mayor and Local Government Association of Tasmania president Christina Holmdahl.

Reforms for the Local Government Legislative Framework Review were released on Wednesday, following two years of consultation.

And while most of the 51 proposed Reform Directions were welcomed, some were rejected by the community.

The review received 800 survey responses and 75 written submissions.

Other proposals to be shelved are changing the way mayors and deputy mayors are elected and the introduction of a candidate nomination fee.

Among reforms to get through are a new ruling that only Australian citizens can vote in local government elections in Tasmania, and that owners of corporations will no longer be entitled to a second potential vote. All potential council candidates also will need to complete a training package in order to nominate.

A proposal for elector polls and public meetings to be retained was also supported, but the threshold to trigger an elector poll will increase from 10 per cent to 20 per cent.

The issue under debate must be one over which local government has power.

Local Government Minister Mark Shelton. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

A potential new Local Government Bill will also give the Local Government Director the power to appoint an adviser to enter a council to review its operations as an early intervention measure.

Local Government Minister Mark Shelton said the next step was for the government to develop a new Local Government Bill.

“While the review is continuing to progress, it’s acknowledged that timelines for final drafting, exposure bill consultation and progress through the parliament will be impacted by the current coronavirus pandemic,” he said.

LGAT president, Christina Holmdahl, said it was integral that local government continued to be involved in the process to ensure the proposed legislation was workable.