It may well be presumptuous of me to use those words to remind us what we are presented with regarding amalgamation and the very meaning of democratic governance that we are facing.
While we are not experiencing a bloody battlefield that was facing Lincoln when he gave his address, we are nonetheless presented with a parallel issue, that being the very essence and meaning of those words; i.e. good governance and a democratic political system that we have been brought up to respect, believe in and live our lives accordingly.
The decision to amalgamate is not ‘of the people’, but of the Premier; certainly not ‘by the people’ as there was no opportunity to vote for or against the notion of amalgamation and as ‘for the people’, I would venture the following for your readers’ consideration.
I believe the rationale behind amalgamation is best summed up in only two ways: one, a reduction in rates and two, the same or increased services with no increase in rates.
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Surely, if either objective or combination of both is not realistic/achievable ” and evidence in other jurisdictions where amalgamation has taken place shows the desired outcome has been far from successful and very costly to the ratepayer ” then I submit that the Local Government Advisory Board in its collective wisdom will shortly be seen as whether it has the integrity and internal fortitude to vote ‘for the people’ or perish in ignominy.
BILL HENSHALL, Lathlain.