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| Mike Baird laughs off federal Labor plan to pay for plebiscites on council mergers Mike Baird laughs off federal Labor plan to pay for plebiscites on council mergers | |
| (4 months later) | |
| Bill Shorten’s promise to bankroll council merger plebiscites is a political stunt that proves he’s not up to making tough decisions, the New South Wales premier, Mike Baird, has said. | Bill Shorten’s promise to bankroll council merger plebiscites is a political stunt that proves he’s not up to making tough decisions, the New South Wales premier, Mike Baird, has said. |
| Labor has called the state Liberal plan to reduce the number of councils from 152 to 115 “undemocratic” and has pledged $20m for plebiscites on it. | Labor has called the state Liberal plan to reduce the number of councils from 152 to 115 “undemocratic” and has pledged $20m for plebiscites on it. |
| Baird said the federal opposition was just trying to win votes, and merger decisions would still be the responsibility of the state, regardless of the public polls. | Baird said the federal opposition was just trying to win votes, and merger decisions would still be the responsibility of the state, regardless of the public polls. |
| He said credit agencies wanted political leaders willing to get the economy in order, claiming Shorten’s opposition to mergers raised a “white flag” on Australia’s triple-A rating. | He said credit agencies wanted political leaders willing to get the economy in order, claiming Shorten’s opposition to mergers raised a “white flag” on Australia’s triple-A rating. |
| “What they’re [rating agencies] looking for … is for a government to have the political will to make the long-term decisions that are required to ensure your finances are in order,” he said on Monday. | “What they’re [rating agencies] looking for … is for a government to have the political will to make the long-term decisions that are required to ensure your finances are in order,” he said on Monday. |
| “What Bill Shorten has shown is he’s not prepared to make those sort of tough decisions for the people of Australia.” | “What Bill Shorten has shown is he’s not prepared to make those sort of tough decisions for the people of Australia.” |
| Baird said his government had conducted years of consultation and an examination process before councils were merged. | Baird said his government had conducted years of consultation and an examination process before councils were merged. |
| Shorten was now intervening in NSW issues despite previously calling the Victorian government’s dispute with the Country Fire Authority a state problem, he said. | Shorten was now intervening in NSW issues despite previously calling the Victorian government’s dispute with the Country Fire Authority a state problem, he said. |
| “Today here he is changing his mind [on intervention in state issues],” Baird said. | “Today here he is changing his mind [on intervention in state issues],” Baird said. |
| “I say to Bill Shorten, what’s his proposal when the majority of councils here in NSW have expenditure greater than revenue?” | “I say to Bill Shorten, what’s his proposal when the majority of councils here in NSW have expenditure greater than revenue?” |
| Labor says plebiscites would give councils the chance to show voter support against amalgamations, and could even be held by councils that were not slated for mergers to send a message to parliament. | Labor says plebiscites would give councils the chance to show voter support against amalgamations, and could even be held by councils that were not slated for mergers to send a message to parliament. |
| The party says the move is similar to that of the Howard government in 2007 when Queensland amalgamated councils. | The party says the move is similar to that of the Howard government in 2007 when Queensland amalgamated councils. |
| “The Liberals’ plan to sack directly elected representatives and force councils to amalgamate is an insult to democracy and the people of New South Wales,” Shorten said on Monday. | “The Liberals’ plan to sack directly elected representatives and force councils to amalgamate is an insult to democracy and the people of New South Wales,” Shorten said on Monday. |
| The NSW Greens have said Labor’s commitment is a “good start” but want the party to go one step further and legislate to make them binding. | The NSW Greens have said Labor’s commitment is a “good start” but want the party to go one step further and legislate to make them binding. |
| “It’s good to give people a say in plebiscites, but to be more than just a political gesture there must be a commitment to legislating to enforce the outcome of any vote,” Greens MP David Shoebridge said. | “It’s good to give people a say in plebiscites, but to be more than just a political gesture there must be a commitment to legislating to enforce the outcome of any vote,” Greens MP David Shoebridge said. |