Councillors meet with Minister for Local Government

Published on 10 July 2023

Following a resolution of Council, Mayor Chaffey and Deputy Mayor Thomson met with the Minister for Local Government, the Hon. Ron Hoenig MP last week to discuss the concerns of the community and the desire of SVC to demerge.

Cr Ian Chaffey, said “We want to partner with the Government to achieve the demerger. We will need their support to do this.”

Cr Trina Thomson agreed and stated “I’m terrified that our communities are losing their passion. Because the demerger has failed so dramatically, by what has been imposed on us by previous Governments. I want our Councils to be role models and leaders and we just want our communities to have faith in local government.”

The Councillors were advised to use the statutory pathway provided by the current Local Government Act if they wished to seek a demerger.

Minister Hoenig told the Mayor and Deputy Mayor: “I recognise that there is strong support in your communities to demerge. I am aware of the strength of that community feeling, both through Dr McGirr and through the boundaries commission last time. Any final decision will, of course, depend on the outcome of the process, and SVC should now continue their work.”

The meeting was arranged by local state MP Dr Joe McGirr who said, “The meeting was positive and constructive. I believe the Minister understands the situation and the key is to map the way forward and the Minister recommended pursuing the process outlined in the Act.”

The Mayor invited Minister Hoenig to visit and meet directly with the council and the Minister agreed to do so.

-ENDS-