Local Government Amalgamations

Mr TELFER (Flinders) (14:53): My question is to the Minister for Local Government. Can the minister explain the process he plans to follow in the coming months in relation to the proposed Grant-Mount Gambier amalgamation?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:54): The government's position on this—and this is something that the Minister for Local Government and I have worked on actively, and I do want to thank the Minister for Local Government, along with the Attorney-General, who have worked collaboratively with me and my team in order to facilitate this vote.

I'm quite happy saying that this is something I have taken an interest in. It came on the back of our country cabinet in Mount Gambier and is something that I asked the Minister for Local Government, in conjunction with the Attorney-General, to pursue. It's a policy that the government wholeheartedly supports because, as I was saying before I ran out of time earlier, this is something that we believe is necessary and timely.

We are demonstrating an ability to get legislation through this parliament, although it might not always be supported by the opposition, that is committed to actually asking the tough questions within the community and that includes this because, as the shadow minister well knows and as the Leader of the Opposition well knows, council amalgamation in any form, in any guise, that has ever occurred throughout our land has been controversial, but we are not going to be a government that shirks the tough questions and isn't willing to contemplate reform around the place. That's why we have gone about this in a thoughtful and measured way, seeking to work with the local community.

As I was explaining earlier, in the event that the vote is a no vote, the process stops and we move on and we focus on other areas of reform that this government has, including in and around the South-East, where we have $100 million worth of election commitments that we are providing for. However, if the vote is a yes vote, then, as I mentioned earlier, we have those two separate processes that we would seek to set in train this year.

We would want to get the process happening as quickly as possible. It's an important one. We want to work with the community in that regard. We are asking the question. We don't see any harm done in that. Those opposite see a political opportunity—so be it. What I acknowledge—

The Hon. J.A.W. Gardner interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Morialta!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: What I want to acknowledge on this side of the house—

Mr Pederick interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Hammond knows better.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —is the genuine interest that has developed in and around Mount Gambier as a result of this undertaking. I would like to acknowledge the efforts of the member for Mount Gambier, who himself acknowledges the merit in simply asking the question. What the outcome will be is a matter for the people of Mount Gambier and the Grant district council to decide, but I think this is a responsible approach. I think it's a mature approach. To the extent that the opposition is willing to support it, that is of course up to them, noting of course that I'm not aware of too much evidence up until this point of those opposite actively publicly endorsing the proposition.