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David 
I dare you to try
Joined: 27 Jul 2003
Location: Andromeda
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| Post subject: Local government: independence and corruption |  |
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<split from "Scotty's strength of leadership v Daniel Andrews' dithering"  thread. Thanks, David for BBMods.>
This may well turn out to be Somyurek's most disgraceful legacy – and all the more so for having received the backing of the Andrews government (and the Liberal opposition):
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/grassroots-revolt-against-somyurek-s-council-power-grab-20200627-p556sb.html
| Quote: | Victoria’s local government sector was dumbfounded last year when Mr Somyurek unveiled his plan to move nearly all of the state’s 79 councils to a single-member ward system, against the advice of the Victorian Electoral Commission and in the face of evidence that multi-member wards worked best for ratepayers.
Single-member electorates have been found to hand a clear advantage to big parties like Labor and the Liberals while discouraging independents, women and minority candidates from running in fiercely fought, winner-takes-all contests.
The Municipal Association of Victoria, local government women’s advocates, rural and metropolitan councils and even members of the minister’s own mayoral advisory panel were against the enforced changes, arguing councils should be free to choose the system that worked best for their residents. |
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All watched over by machines of loving grace
Last edited by David on Tue Jul 28, 2020 11:38 am; edited 2 times in total |
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stui magpie 
Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.
Joined: 03 May 2005
Location: In flagrante delicto
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Councils used to be part of the career path for wannabe Labor pollies in Vic.
Start with a union or as a political staffer.
Elected union officials go straight to state pre selection if good enough, paid staff go through the training ground of the council, learn how to work an election.
I'm not sure what's worse, a Greens dominated council or a Labor dominated one.
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Every dead body on Mt Everest was once a highly motivated person, so maybe just calm the **** down. |
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Tannin 
Can't remember
Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Location: Huon Valley Tasmania
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| stui magpie wrote: | | I'm not sure what's worse, a Greens dominated council or a Labor dominated one. |
One owned by the real estate developers.
Which is pretty much all of them. Crooks and scum, the whole lot of them.
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�Let's eat Grandma.� Commas save lives! |
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stui magpie
Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.
Joined: 03 May 2005
Location: In flagrante delicto
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^
OK, I'll pay that
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Every dead body on Mt Everest was once a highly motivated person, so maybe just calm the **** down. |
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David
I dare you to try
Joined: 27 Jul 2003
Location: Andromeda
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| stui magpie wrote: | | I'm not sure what's worse, a Greens dominated council or a Labor dominated one. |
How about one mostly run by independents? I do share Tannin's cynicism about a lot of councils (and feel like my local council, which is run by vaguely Liberal Party-aligned independents, is a depressing case in point), but I feel like even nominal independence is better than nothing, and something to cling onto – and unfortunately, Somyurek's intentions here in terms of shifting the game in favour of the major parties were crystal clear, and I very much suspect the outcome will be as feared.
What I really wish is that systems like the independent-dominated Tasmanian upper house were the norm in this country, not the exception. That seems far closer to the spirit of democracy.
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All watched over by machines of loving grace |
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stui magpie
Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.
Joined: 03 May 2005
Location: In flagrante delicto
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I'm the camp of needing convincing why councils should even exist. 3 layers of government supporting multiple layers of leeches.
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Every dead body on Mt Everest was once a highly motivated person, so maybe just calm the **** down. |
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David
I dare you to try
Joined: 27 Jul 2003
Location: Andromeda
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If we were going to kick one tier of government to the kerb, then I think it'd be an easy choice, yeah. But ultimately you probably don't want state governments wasting their time with rubbish collection, children's playgrounds, etc. Obviously a lot of that stuff isn't highly politically freighted and, in practice, a (say) Labor Party councillor is probably going to do fine. But I think it does replace the idea of local community participation – the notion that anyone with a passion for their community can run and have a say in how it's operated – with essentially a conveyor belt for lower-level party apparatchiks looking to work their way up the ranks.
I'm well aware that both of those are idealised constructs and the on-the-ground reality probably falls somewhere more in the middle in each case, but I do think the principle is important.
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All watched over by machines of loving grace |
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eddiesmith 
Lets get ready to Rumble
Joined: 23 Nov 2004
Location: Lexus Centre
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| Having sporting grounds with a more statewide consistency instead of being hijacked by local greens would be a good thing. |
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Tannin
Can't remember
Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Location: Huon Valley Tasmania
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Local governments are indeed the most corrupt of the three tiers. Well, the most openly corrupt. Well, they used to be, but the present Commonwealth government (Liberal-National) sets new records in not even pretending to be honest.
Most local governments are simply collections of pigs feeding at the trough.
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�Let's eat Grandma.� Commas save lives! |
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eddiesmith
Lets get ready to Rumble
Joined: 23 Nov 2004
Location: Lexus Centre
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| Dan Andrews might have something to say in the stakes for most corrupt governments |
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Tannin
Can't remember
Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Location: Huon Valley Tasmania
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^ Complete lack of evidence for your hate-fuelled claim. Same as usual.
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�Let's eat Grandma.� Commas save lives! |
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David
I dare you to try
Joined: 27 Jul 2003
Location: Andromeda
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