Howard-Beattie face-off - Beattie to retire in a few weeks ...
Excerpt from the Courier Mail:
Beattie: I'm not quitting yet
10 August 2007
Premier Peter Beattie has this afternoon denied claims from the Prime Minister that he is just weeks away from announcing his retirement.
Mr Beattie said he had not made up his mind about retirement and that he would reach a decision about his future over the next 12 months.
John Howard claimed in parliament yesterday that Mr Beattie was preparing to retire "in September or October".
The leaders have clashed repeatedly and spectacularly over the Queensland Government's plan to amalgamate councils.
"Every man and his dog, including Rusty, knows that Peter Beattie is going to retire in September or October of this year," Mr Howard said, referring to Mr Beattie's pet dog.
"And his retirement gift to the people of Queensland is to put the jackboot into the democratically elected people of various local government bodies."
...
See - Beattie is going.
posted by Concerned Ratepayer at 7:21 AM
4 Comments:
Oh, If only it were true - dear heart that this evil man be gone - for his is a blight on poor Queensland and Australia
7:27 PM, August 10, 2007
Count the votes as they arrive in the post and face the sack!
Excerpt from the Courier Mail:
Rebel council faces the sack
11 August 2007
A defiant southwest Queensland council is poised to become the first sacked for organising a vote under tough new amalgamation laws.
Warroo Shire Council, which will merge with four other councils around Roma under the reforms, has indicated it will count votes already received from a survey at a meeting on Tuesday.
"It's a survey, but I'm willing to take the consequences regardless," Mayor Donna Stewart said.
"This is an attack on the democratic right of the people to have a say."
But the State Government warned councils not to proceed with any counting, even if survey ballots had been sent out. A dozen councils, including Tambo and Ilfracombe, are pressing ahead with the referendums.
Local Government Minister Andrew Fraser was not impressed, warning any counting or collating would attract instant dismissal.
"Obviously, they can't stop the mail arriving but they need to take no further action that proceeds with the poll in any way," Mr Fraser said.
Other councils are waiting on legal advice before showing their hand on the polls, including southeast Queensland's Boonah, which is earmarked to merge with Beaudesert.
Mayor John Brent said the council would consult with the community before deciding.
"If democracy in Queensland has stooped to the level that I lose my job as a result of it, so be it," he said.
The laws finally came into effect yesterday after the longest State Parliament sitting in more than two decades. Bleary-eyed MPs continued their fiery debate until just after 4am.
The state's 156 non-metropolitan councils will be slashed to 72 after the March elections.
The State Opposition, however, has been quick to foreshadow unprecedented legal action against the Government and expects to be joined by community groups such as Friends of Noosa.
Opposition Leader Jeff Seeney intends to lodge an application in the Supreme Court to circumvent a provision in the new laws which prevents a judicial review of the process.
"The ultimate aim is to have a court decide the decision-making process was flawed and have it done again," he said.
Meanwhile, Liberal leader Bruce Flegg has written to the Australian Electoral Commission asking for an official poll to be held for Redcliffe.
Dr Flegg was open to acting on behalf of other councils but said Redcliffe was an obvious first choice after strong community support.
"I think there is a chance that they will be able to do that," he said.
However, Mr Fraser dismissed the plan as another Coalition stunt, saying the AEC could not legally intervene.
"Today is a day to focus on the future," Mr Fraser said. "Now is the time to ensure that the transition is smooth and we build stronger councils."
But councils will continue to fight against the forced councils amalgamations, with a rally from the railway to the beach in coastal Yeppoon tomorrow.
Livingstone Shire Mayor Bill Ludwig said the Government's draconian legislation had galvanised people against them.
"They are frightened to give their community a voice and, in my opinion, that is extraordinary," he said.
The Federal Government maintains it is intent on finding a legal way for councils to hold polls on forced amalgamations despite the threat of immediate dismissal.
"Watch this space – there is more to come," said a spokesman for Local Government Minister Jim Lloyd.
8:16 AM, August 11, 2007
This really is extraordinary stuff from our Premier. I don't really care one way or the other about amalgamations but he's out of control.
10:20 AM, August 11, 2007
"Bite him, Rusty, bite him"
10:57 PM, August 16, 2007
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