Vote Needed Now Not In 2017

A few days ago, Opposition Leader, Mark McGowan, called for the Government to suspend the forced amalgamation process and seek a mandate for it at the next election.

I know it is commonplace these days for governments to claim a mandate, when it suits them, for anything they said in the election campaign - but we all know that is a very selective process these days.

There is also the huge problem that elections are won on a range of issues, not just a single issue, so it is quite possible for a party to win government despite rather than because of one or more of its policies.

So what Mark McGowan ought to be calling for is for all affected communities to be able to call a Dadour poll on the Local Government Advisory Board recommendations - and there is no point in waiting until 2017 for this as to do so would simply prolong the uncertainty.

The Minister can call a poll wherever he chooses (but he has already chosen not to do so in response to a petition from Kalamunda) and there is nothing to stop him requiring them to be on the same basis as a Dadour poll. Simpson rejects doing so because he knows what the outcome will be in many cases and he can't face the humiliation.