Beattie suffers court rebuff on amalgamations ...

Excerpt from Sydney Morning Herald:

Judge won't adjourn Qld council case

4 September 2007

Queensland's Chief Justice has refused to adjourn a civil case between the state government and the Local Government Association fearing such a move would politicise the justice system.

Lawyers for the State of Queensland made an application in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Tuesday to have the case - which revolves around a controversial amendment to the Local Government Act - adjourned for several weeks.

They argued Local Government Minister Andrew Fraser already has promised to revoke the amendment, which prohibits councils from conducting polls on forced amalgamations, and that the adjournment would give the government time to do so.

The Local Government Association (LGA) argued there was no proof that it would be revoked.

The unpopular amendment was rushed through parliament early last month and earned Premier Peter Beattie the label of "the great dictator".
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See - Judge won't adjourn Qld council case.