Local Government Boundaries

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:39): My question is to the Minister for Local Government. Can the minister describe the level of consultation he expects of the Local Government Boundaries Commission when consulting on boundary adjustments, and to what degree does the government give precedence to community views in their final decisions? With your leave, sir, and that of the house I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: As I understand, Campbelltown council is preparing to consider whether or not to commit funds to a review of its boundary with the Adelaide Hills, and ratepayers and councillors have approached me with questions about whether the government might overrule the advice of such a review. But, by the same token, Adelaide Hills residents in the area in question have also asked me how seriously their concerns—very strong concerns in many cases—will be taken in the community consultation, should a review take place.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Stuart—Minister for Local Government, Minister for Regional Roads, Minister for Veterans Affairs) (14:40): Thank you to the member for the question. As you are all aware on the other side, the Local Government Boundaries Commission is independent. It's away from the minister and the Office of Local Government (OLG). I will get more information for the member specifically for those questions and those councils he is talking about and come back with a more definite solution for his information, but I have to reinforce that the boundaries commission is independent, away from the parliament itself.