Qld: State Cabinet confirms all council boundary recommendations

AAP General News (Australia)
08-06-2007
Qld: State Cabinet confirms all council boundary recommendations

BRISBANE, Aug 6 AAP - Queensland state cabinet has accepted all of the Local Government
Reform Commission's boundary recommendations, despite outrage on the coast and in the
bush.

The Local Government Reform Implementation Bill 2007 - which will cut the state's 156
councils to 72 - will be introduced to parliament tomorrow.

Premier Peter Beattie said the government hoped to pass the legislation by the end of the month.

"I know this is difficult, but this is good for Queensland and we have to persist with
it, because if we don't, then we will not have councils that can cope with the growth
that this state is facing," he told reporters in Brisbane today.

Cabinet also approved 22 of the commission's 25 recommendations to improve local government.

It rejected the recommendation that all councils should conduct elections on an undivided
basis, and will allow 26 of the new councils to use divisional boundaries at the March
2008 poll.

It also decided to establish an independent tribunal to set salaries for mayors and
councillors, and rejected a recommendation to suspend small boundary matters related to
Cook Shire Council.

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KEYWORD: COUNCILS CABINET

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