Queensland Government Bullies CouncilsQUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT BULLIES COUNCILS: LGAQ
(DARREN CARTWRIGHT, AAP, August 23, 2009)
Queensland council leaders will gather as one this week to discuss how best to deal with the state government's bullying tactics, says the head of the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ).
LGAQ executive director Greg Hallam told AAP on Sunday the Bligh Government had treated councils poorly and a recent decision to abandon subsidising local infrastructure and programs would ultimately cost first home buyers.
"They treat councils like they're another department they can control when they want," Mr Hallam said.
"To scrap the infrastructure and subsidy programs means about $5,000 will be added to the cost of a new housing block which means the first home buyers grant will pay this.
"There is a lot of concern about what the government has done and their bully-boy tactics." The two and half day conference will be attended by more than 700 delegates with up to five members from each council across the state attending.
There will be a meet and greet on Monday night in the Roma Street Parklands before the conference begins at the Brisbane Convention Centre on Tuesday.
Among the topics on the agenda are protesting against the removal of the state's fuel subsidy, impact of amalgamated councils, greater input for councils on government decisions relating to brothels, fluoridation of water, gaming machine applications and extended trading hours and to assist funding of councils with a population of 6,000 or less.
Mr Hallam said party politics among councils was almost non-existent and they had a common agenda to improve services while keeping rates to a minimum.
"The cuts in subsidies and grants means the councils will have to borrow the money and in some instances there may be a one per cent rise in rates to cover the losses although that depends on each council," he said.
