Pre-Empting the Local Government Advisory Board?

Or is the whole LGAB process just a sham/smokescreen?

The previously-announced timelines for the amalgamation process had the LGAB finishing its inquiry process in June 2014 (and that will be a tough timeline to meet, given the number and complexity of proposals), the Minister for Local Government considering those proposals in July 2014 and the Governor issuing orders for new local governments in August 2014.

Now, the Government, with the connivance of WA Local Government Association and the Local Government Managers Association, has issued a 'Local Government Reform Toolkit', which, amongst other things, requires "recommendations to be submitted to the LGAB relating to the Wards and Consequential directions of the Governors Orders" as soon as possible, but in any case before July 2014.

So local governments are being required to make proposals for matters such as ward structures at best at the same time as the LGAB makes its recommendations and certainly before the Minister has made a determination on those recommendations. This is clearly non-sensical and, at best, will involve a lot of wasted effort where there are conflicting proposals.

One of the principles set out in the toolkit is that "communities and stakeholders actively participate in the change process". How on earth are local governments supposed to consult meaningfully with their communities on matters of detail, such as ward structures, when they don't even know what their future configuration as local governments is going to be.