Well Done, WA Nationals

This 'stop press' post thanks to information provided by Malcolm Mummery in an email to the Dadour Group.

This morning the Nationals at their conference in Margaret River delayed morning tea (significant if you have tasted CWA scones) to pass the motion calling on their elected members to cease supporting legislation on council amalgamations.
 
This is not binding on elected members, and the key legislation has been stalled since February anyway, but puts on the public record a matter of fundamental significance to our political system that the media have been studiously avoiding.   If the ALP now gets challenged over its position (it supported the legislation and hides behind the misleading mantra that it opposes forced amalgamations) on the essential scope of LG autonomy, the façade of orderly procession to a Labor victory will be shattered.  We may just hear arguments on principle rather than just slogans. 

The resolution is also an important demonstration to Messrs Barnett and Simpson that they have squandered whatever goodwill they might once have had on the issue of local government reform.