John McGrath, South Perth Liberal MLA, inevitably seemed rather uncomfortable - and to be fair, his position is somewhat invidious - but was able to point to initiatives he had taken to raise concerns about the process.
He specifically stated his disagreement over the proposed transfer of Burswood to the City of Perth as this would require substantial rate increases for both Victoria Park and South Perth in the event they were amalgamated.
He refused to be drawn by suggestions that he might stand as an independent at the next state election, but kept giving clear indications that he is not at one with his government on this by his repeated us of the phrase "they say". In response to a question of whether he would be willing to support a private members bill to disallow forced amalgamations, he replied that he would 'be willing to consider it'.
Most tellingly, he clearly stated that he didn't believe that the Government should be forcing changes on the people of South Perth without their having the right to vote on them. His view is that the Dadour clause should always be used where there is substantial amalgamation.
City of South Perth Deputy Mayor, Glenn Cridland, gave an informed commentary on the process to-date and why the City had become a party to legal action challenging the process.
The meeting passed, unanimously, the following two resolutions:
1. That the meeting calls on the Government to at the
earliest opportunity amend the Local Government Act to prevent any amalgamation
of councils by a process of artificial boundary change without ratepayers
having the democratic right to vote as to their acceptance or otherwise.
2. The meeting requests that the City of South Perth notify
the Local Government Advisory Board (LGAB) that the City no longer supports an
amalgamation with Victoria Park or any other amalgamation or boundary change
and therefore withdraws its support for the joint proposal submitted in October
2013.
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