Baird-Grant government pays for arrogant council amalgamations agenda

The Orange by-election has shown just how much anger there is in the community with the Baird-Grant Government's arrogant and flawed forced council amalgamations. The community opposition to forced amalgamations is not limited to regional areas, it is strongly felt wherever communities have seen their local councils sacked, or threatened by a Mike Baird amalgamation plan.

Greens MP and Local Government spokesperson David Shoebridge said:

"The Nationals have been bleeding votes and support because they ignored the community and sat mutely while their Liberal-led Coalition started dismantling local councils.

"A 36% swing away from the Nationals in a safe seat like Orange is extraordinary, this was a response to people being ignored and searching for any outlet to express their frustration.



"The flip-flop on greyhounds was for many just the last straw for the Coalition, it comes on top of years of privatisations and the more recent assault on local democracy.

"No one respects politicians who make large moral commitments one day and then run away from them when the political pressure starts to tell.

"The forced amalgamation of Cabonne and Blayney with Orange Council remains widely opposed by locals across the Orange electorate who see it for what it is, a serious attack on local democracy.

"We have also seen that the anger of council amalgamations isn't limited to the country, anger at sacked councils still simmers right throughout Sydney as well.

"The Greens are proud to continue to stand with local communities to support local democracy.

"We see 2017 as the year when communities and councils will strike back and force accountability on the Baird government," Mr Shoebridge said.

14 November 2016