BRIGHTON CARAVAN PARK

The Hon. M. PARNELL (14:32): I have a supplementary question. Does the minister have any concerns about the confidence that the community might have in council decisions, given their ability to rescind earlier decisions, such as the one the minister referred to where an additional nine months was granted, which decision was then subsequently rescinded? Is there a broader issue for the confidence that the community can have in local council decisions?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:32): I thank the honourable member for his question. Indeed, he makes a very good point in his question, and that is that these people have completely lost confidence in their local council. What's more, there is a large part of that council's community—the general community who do not have a particular relationship with these people, other than to share their community—who have come out in thunderous support of this group of residents.

Again, I think the behaviour of the council has been nothing short of a disgrace in the toing and froing. We are all well aware of the bad blood between a number of the councillors which has gone on for a protracted period of time and the infighting. I have talked about that in this place before, in relation to councils generally, that they need to focus less on their own internal relationships and focus more on the purpose of being there, that is, to look after these communities. They have a responsibility to these communities. They should stop the infighting and look to serve the communities that they are elected to take care of and get on with the job.