Local Government Amalgamations

Mr TELFER (Flinders) (15:01): My question is to the Minister for Local Government. Is the minister aware of the step-by-step process the boundaries commission is required to undertake, including the minister's response requirements, and can he explain it to the house?

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Stuart—Minister for Local Government, Minister for Regional Roads, Minister for Veterans Affairs) (15:01): Thank you to the shadow minister for that question. The Premier has very adequately explained the plebiscite and the process that will be going through. What will happen is that we are asking the people of Mount Gambier and the District Council of Grant whether they want to explore the opportunity to—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Florey! Member for Flinders! The member for Chaffey is on two warnings. The minister has the call.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: We are asking the people of those communities, both the Mount Gambier city council and the District Council of Grant, whether they want to explore the opportunity to have a discussion about a potential amalgamation of the two councils. The Premier has explained that very clearly. We have explained that across all media, and I know there are different stories from people going down there and trying to state something different.

The Premier has indicated that if a positive vote comes back in, we will then look at the opportunity to put that to the independent arbitrator, the Local Government Boundaries Commission. They will look at that very closely and do an analysis of the whole process and, at the same time, have lots of consultation and do the due diligence about whether it's financial, whether it's economical. Then, as the Premier has also indicated, the Productivity Commission will look at that.

As the shadow minister was the President of the Local Government Association, he will know the processes to be gone through. The Local Government Association is very aware that there are no forced amalgamations. Independent of all politics, the boundaries commission will go out, I think on two occasions, and consult with all stakeholders. It will then be referred to the Productivity Commission, and that will come back to the government, whether it's a yes or no. At the end of the day, we will then make the decision whether we propose anything further.