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ANTHONY ROBERTS MP ACTIONS AND STATEMENTS ON FORCED
AMALGAMATIONS DURING ELECTION CAMPAIGN – 31 MARCH 2015
The threat of forced council amalgamations and the state of the planning laws are very
important issues generally and in the Lane Cove electorate. They resulted in the calling of a
large public meeting in June 2013 at which Roberts MP was a speaker. A number of
resolutions were overwhelmingly passed, including that Hunters Hill Municipality retain its
independence.
Anthony Roberts‟ election brochure distributed throughout the electorate in March 2015 lists
Health, Roads, Transport, Police, Education and the Vulnerable, but makes no mention of
local government, forced amalgamations or planning.
Anthony Roberts refused to attend and answer questions at the Candidates Forum, see
here. Every other candidate attended.
He refused twice to give answers to a list of policy statements put to him by SHHMC. These
included statements on forced amalgamations and the independence of Hunters Hill
Municipality.
On 16 March Ryde, Hunters Hill and Lane Cove Councils commenced a campaign called
„Keep Councils Local‟ and put out a Media Release „Baird Government must reveal
amalgamation plans – see here.
In the last week of the election campaign a further Media Release dated Monday 23 March
from „Keep Councils Local‟ was posted on each of the three councils websites - see here.
The Media Release states in part the following:
The Keep Councils Local campaign is urging Liberal MPs in Sydney’s north to join with the
Member for Lane Cove, Anthony Roberts and the Member for Ryde, Victor Dominello in
opposing forced amalgamation of their councils.
Mr Roberts, who is the NSW Minister for Resources and Energy, was unequivocal when
asked about forced council amalgamations:
“When it comes to local Government, there is no policy on the table except the Fit for the
Future policy which allows for voluntary council mergers, but only if every Council agrees to
it.”
“As I said in June 2013, when it comes to Councils, bigger is not better. I naturally support
the idea of all Councils working closer together to achieve the best outcomes for their
ratepayers, whilst retaining their identity and autonomy.”
Anthony Roberts posted the above on his website, as it related to him, on Friday 20 March in
advance of its public release here.
The Premier and the Liberal Party did not respond to the Mayors question “Will you if reelected force councils to amalgamate?”
SHHMC has been sent from concerned residents copies of emails sent to them by Anthony
Roberts dating from 16 March. It is the same email to all and includes the following:
“I am unaware of any policy of forced amalgamations regarding Hunters Hill or any other
Council in the Lane Cove Electorate.” He adds “My position against forced amalgamations
has been made time and again over the last fifteen years, most recently at a public meeting
in Hunters Hill in 2013,” and “I remain a strong supporter of Hunters Hill Council and its local
government identity.”
To view what Anthony Roberts said at the public meeting in June 2013 see here.
What is one to make of all this?
Anthony Roberts is a Minister in the Cabinet. In relation to Government Policy what he is
publicly saying in the last part of the campaign is that he is unaware of any Liberal policy of
forced amalgamations and that there will only be voluntary council mergers if every council
agrees to it.
He is also saying that he personally adheres to his long-held view which is against forced
amalgamations and is a strong supporter of Hunters Hill Council and its local government
identity.
Anthony Roberts was re-elected after publicly making these commitments and promises to
the community and its council.
The community expects him to keep his word. The community also expects the elected
Liberal Government to respect the decision made by the community and its elected council
to retain the historic Hunters Hill Municipality and for it not to be amalgamated.