CoP Bill Clause 37 Would Be Cancer

Not for the first time, Local Government Minister, Tony Simpson, appears not to understand his own proposed legislation ('Bid to block Burswood land grab', West Australian, 9th October, 2015). 

The concern with the last clause of the City of Perth Bill is not that the Local Government Advisory Board (LGAB) might 'change its tune' over Burswood and the City of Perth, as Simpson claims, but that it changes the basis on which the LGAB is required to assess any proposal for such a change.

It would do so by requiring that the LGAB, in addition to its current criteria, "have regard to the special significance of the role and responsibilities of the City of Perth that flow from Perth being the capital of Western Australia", but without defining the "role and responsibilities". In practice, such definition would be derived from any proposal made by the City of Perth itself or by the Minister for Local Government or from Government policy communicated to the Board.

We know that the Premier, the Minister and the City of Perth all still want the Burswood Peninsula to be in the City of Perth. The City of Perth has also cast covetous eyes on the commercial areas of both Subiaco and Vincent.

The clause that Minister Simpson so disingenuously casts as benign would, in practice, be a cancer allowing the City of Perth to grow on its own terms.

West Australian, 9th October, 2015

Victoria Park (Council and MLA) Join Battle

Some of us have been concerned that the ALP Opposition has been leaving too many doors open to accepting an amended City of Perth Bill, with removal of clause 37 (requiring the Local Government Advisory Board to consider unspecified 'capital city' role and function for boundary change porposals for the City of Perth) being its single 'non-negotiable'.

In today's Southern Gazette, Victoria Park MLA, Ben Wyatt, in conjunction with Town of Victoria Park CEO, Antony Vuletta, appears to say the ALP will draw the line at (at the very least) requiring removal of both Clause 37 and Clause 29. 

Clause 29 is the clause that gives powers to the Executive Director Public Health - but only over Kings Park. It is the Local Government Legislation Amendment Bill, also before the Parliament right now, that contains the same provision for all A-Class reserves, but the CoP Bill would, if passed, set a precedent.

Even if the City of Perth Bill is defeated, the Local Government Legislation Amendment Bill is also a threat on the same basis.

Both Bills must be defeated before Kings Park and Burswood (not to mention Subiaco and Vincent) are safe.

Southern Gazette, 6th October 2015