The rally was hosted by the City of Stirling on February 22 at Bob Daniels Community Centre to inform residents of the likely impact on them of local government reform.
Under the proposed boundary changes, Inglewood and Dianella, currently in the City of Stirling, would amalgamate with City of Bayswater suburbs.
Cr Cornish attended the rally and was disappointed with the message expressed in a Stay in Stirling animated campaign video regarding a responsible and irresponsible neighbour.
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READ NOWAt council on February 25 Cr Cornish read out the message from the video.
‘They bought what they wanted and lived extravagantly,’ he read.
‘They didn’t save their money, they used credit. They didn’t think about what may happen in the future.
‘Then one day a decision was made to take away all the cautious neighbours’ savings and investments and share them with the irresponsible neighbour.
‘Do you think that is fair? Well that is the reason we are here today.’
Cr Barry McKenna expressed his frustrations with the message and said the City of Bayswater had more than $72 million in reserves and did not use credit but provided about six self-supporting loans.
Cr Cornish said he did not have any problems with the City of Stirling fighting to protect its turf but the clear insinuation that their neighbour was irresponsible was unacceptable.
‘They can have an opinion about everything we do but they can’t make up stuff and say we’re un-financial and we use credit when that’s not the case,’ he said.
‘Anyone who has a brand that’s worth protecting needs to protect it.
‘The City has focused on delivering messages around its achievements and what it is about to affected communities to ensure the proposed new entity strives to meet the needs of the communities that are being brought together.’
In response to the rally, City of Bayswater Council resolved to write to Local Government Advisory Board, Minister for Local Government and the City of Stirling expressing ‘severe disappointment’ that the event implied the City of Bayswater was financially irresponsible.