Beware, Bill Marmion (and others) - Lessons from NSW

For some months now there has been relative peace and quiet on the WA local government front, but who knows what might happen after the March 2017 State election.

In NSW, however, the Baird Liberal Government continues to make waves with its forced local government amalgamations, some of which are still working their way through the courts. One of these is the forced amalgamation of Orange, Cabonne and Blayney Councils - the area that just happened to be the subject of a by-election last weekend.

The NSW State seat of Orange had been held by the Nationals since 1947, but no more. In what reports attribute to widespread discontent at the forced local government amalgamations and the stuffed-up ban (then non-ban) of greyhound racing, a right wing independent from the Shooters and Fishers Party has taken the seat.

Local Government NSW President Keith Rhoades said: "This massive repudiation of forced amalgamations comes hot on the heels of the September 10 local government elections, where voters of stand-alone councils sent an equally clear ‘back off’ message to the Liberal/National government".

The Nationals are a partner with the Liberals in the NSW Government and the basis of the voter discontent is said to be that the Nationals "had stood by and said nothing as Premier Mike Baird made 'arbitrary and arrogant decisions' without explaining these decisions to the community or consulting them" (http://www.governmentnews.com.au/2016/11/25625).

Does this sound familiar? I'm sure it does to many of those who were part of the community groundswell that eventually overcame Barnett's ideological push for larger councils in WA. Many local members were at best silent or even supported forced amalgamations in opposition to the voices of their communities.

More recently, Subiaco residents were appalled by the lack of support for their community by their local MLA, Bill Marmion, when faced by the dismembering of the City of Subiaco, without consultation, under the City of Perth Act.

These silent MPs, and Bill Marmion in particular, would do well to ponder their perfidy between now and March 2017. Whilst it is probably too much to hope that they might fall on their swords, it would be nice to hear the occasional 'mea culpa' and sincere promise (as distinct from disposable 'election commitment') to consult and listen to their communities in future.

Minister Simpson Resigns - No Confidence in Barnett

I've been away from this blog for several months, largely due to illness, but I couldn't let Local Government Minister, Tony Simpson's, resignation from Cabinet, on the grounds that he no longer had confidence in Premier Colin Barnett's leadership, pass without comment.

Readers of this blog (and the more recent one dealing with the City of Perth Act) will know that I have been very critical of Simpson in his role as Local Government Minister. 

In retrospect, however, it is unclear how much of the local government so-called reform (aka forced amalgamation) fiasco was Simpson being malicious and how much his simply being unable to stand up to Barnett. Certainly the fatuous and false 'economies of scale' argument came from Col's half-baked economics - I commented more than once that he must have attended the lecture on economies of scale but skipped the next one on diseconomies of scale. 

Simpson was often the scapegoat for Col's ignorance and intransigence.

Even so, Simpson cannot be held blameless, as he should have stood up to Col - that was the time to resign - but, in fairness, he was too new a minister for resignation to have had much effect.

Simpson has performed much better and more consistently in his other portfolios of Community Services, Seniors and Volunteering, and Youth, but these are not high profile ones and he has got little public recognition from them.

Col's predictable and rather puerile response was that Simpson's resignation provided an opportunity for someone else to be a Minister - as if the Government benches in Parliament were brimming with talent. Whoever gets the gig, we can only hope that their tenure will be short-lived.

South Perth Rejects City of Perth Bill

Last night, South Perth City Council voted unanimously to express its strong concerns about a range of aspects of the City of Perth Bill currently before the Legislative Assembly (http://capitalcitycitizenscommittee.blogspot.com.au/2015/07/well-done-south-perth-council.html). 

This could be the game-changer that creates awareness of the dangers of the current City of Perth Bill for all local governments not just those specifically mentioned in the Bill.

New Blog: Capital City Citizens' Committee

http://capitalcitycitizenscommittee.blogspot.com.au

I'll still be commenting here on the City of Perth Bill and other local government matters, but there is a new blog on the block (http://capitalcitycitizenscommittee.blogspot.com.au) focussing on what is needed to establish an effective capital city for Western Australia and all Western Australians.

The Capital City belongs to all Western Australians, not just the ratepayers, residents and businesses of the City of Perth. We are all citizens of our Capital City.

As well as drawing attention to the flaws of the current City of Perth Bill and urging its rejection by the Parliament, the CCCC is constructively working to identify the functional and legislative basis for a Capital City of which all Western Australians can be proud.

Liberal MLC, Mark Lewis, Fails Dismally

Liberal MLC Mark Lewis tried to find 'reasons' why country people should support the City of Perth Bill - but, as Cecilia Brooke eloquently points out, he failed dismally.

No Consultation (Again) = Disrespect

I have previously drawn attention to lack of consultation (and denial of it) in this blog - http://ianrker-vincent.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/porkies-in-parliament.html and http://ianrker-vincent.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/simpson-nonsense-and-inconsistency-again.html.

Jane Boxall's letter in today's West Australian demonstrates that this lack of consultation is so all-pervasive as to amount to disrespect.

The West Australian, 6th July 2015

CCCC Thanks to Shane Love and The Nationals

A few days delay in publishing the CCCC letter thanking Shane Love and the Nationals for sticking to their principles - but the West gets there in the end.

Simpson Nonsense and Inconsistency Again

On 21st May, Simpson told the Parliament that he was "working with the City of Subiaco" (http://ianrker-vincent.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/porkies-in-parliament.html).

On 18th June, he told the Parliament that "one letter has gone from the department to request a meeting with Subiaco CEO and Mayor", but that he has had no reply. In view of the Subiaco Mayor's statement that the City of Subiaco has had no contact from the department or the Minister since March, why hasn't the Minister checked that the letter was actually received. Perhaps it's still sitting in his out-tray waiting for him to sign it.

On The Parliamentary Record

Not that we needed it to be so, given the public statement in the West Australian on Tuesday, but still good to see it confirmed in the Parliament.

Bad Day For Barnett

So-called 'maverick' Liberal MP, Rob Johnson, votes against the Government. Barnett's petulant response is to say Johnson won't get Liberal endorsement in 2017 - despite the fact that such endorsement is not at the whim of the Premier.

And the Nationals affirm their intention to vote against the City of Perth Bill.

It's really good to see that at least some in politics (and, yes, there are others - but too few) are willing to take a stand on principle.

However, the current Bill is not only about boundaries - although it does give them too much importance, which is both an affront to democracy and a distraction from what should be the main aim of enhancing our Capital City.

The remainder of the Bill is poorly thought out and does little or nothing to establish a true Capital City.

Colin Barnett's View of the Magna Carta

http://www.bl.uk/collection-items/burnt-copy-of-magna-carta-with-the-seal-attached

Today is the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta.

Magna Carta, meaning ‘The Great Charter’, is one of the most famous documents in the world. Originally issued by King John of England (r.1199-1216) as a practical solution to the political crisis he faced in 1215, Magna Carta established for the first time the principle that everybody, including the king, was subject to the law (http://www.bl.uk/magna-carta/articles/magna-carta-an-introduction).

800 years later, the Magna Carta remains a cornerstone of the British (and hence Australian) system of government and law. However, one could be forgiven for concluding that this burnt original (one of four originals) of the Great Charter is how Colin Barnett sees it.

We have hope, however. 

Perth people power has put WA’s treacherous king of the 21st century on notice and has already forced him to run up the white flag over forced amalgamations.

Next, the people, through their representatives in the WA Parliament, will reject his egregious City of Perth Bill in its current form. 

A Capital City for All: The Capital City Citizens' Committee

The push against the now-failed local government so-called reform process succeeded, in large part, because it was diverse, not centrally organised and every one could find their own role to play. The City of Perth Bill is a different kind of threat - a very specific one but still one that affects each and every one of us in WA.

That is why we have decided to adopt a more organised approach - although this should not deter anyone from doing their own bit as and when they can.

We firmly believe that the Capital City deserves and needs different governance provisions from other local governments, but the very nature of the Capital City means that its actions affect us all. In that sense every West Australian is a citizen of the Capital City - hence the name we have chosen for our endeavour.

The Capital City Citizens' Committee (CCCC) will:

1. Document the flaws of the current Bill and the threats posed by ambiguity and lack of accountability.

2. Develop proposals that will:

—Enhance governance, planning and development of a true Capital City

—Include the community and key stakeholders

—Provide genuine accountability to the Parliament, the City of Perth Council and the community 

3. Lobby Members of Parliament to oppose the current Bill and to support the Capital City we all deserve. 

https://localgovtsubiaco.wordpress.com/2015/06/12/capital-city-citizens-committee-is-formed/

The Tsunami Is Building

If Colin Barnett thinks that his City of Perth Bill will get an easy ride because it doesn't obviously affect more than a few, he is mistaken. These are but the early shots in the battle - it's not only Subiaco and Nedlands but Kings Park, Vincent and Victoria Park. If you you doubt that, keep watching this space.

Love the re-use of the Subi banner from previous fiasco. This and Tony Noakes' letter ("Nobody has told us what the City of Perth Bill is for, what it is supposed to achieve…") demonstrates that Barnett has learnt nothing.