It may not have come as a surprise, but the Williams case MkII decision is exactly the legal nightmare local governments have unsuccessfully been fighting to avoid for years.
19 June, 2014
By Julian Bajkowski Opponents to a change in the Constitution that could give financial recognition to local government through a referendum at the 14th September federal poll have launched their official campaign with an attack by former Howard government minister Peter Reith on the Nationals leader in the Senate,. Barnaby Joyce. After months of sniping […]
3 June, 2013
By Julian Bajkowski Independent power broker Tony Windsor has expressed confidence that a referendum on financial recognition of local government in the Australian Constitution on 14th September can succeed, despite Prime Minister Julia Gillard announcing vote without a form of words for the question. Mr Windsor told Government News that a ‘yes’ vote was “achievable” […]
9 May, 2013
By Julian Bajkowski A leaked letter from Queensland Premier Campbell Newman to Prime Minister Julia Gillard reveals that the state government is behind the proposed wording of a Constitutional amendment pivotal to a referendum and does not believe the change will erode state powers over local government. A copy of the letter obtained by Government […]
11 March, 2013
By Julian Bajkowski Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has thrown down the gauntlet to other Australian state and territory leaders to back the ‘yes’ case in a proposed referendum on financial recognition of local governments or risk losing billions of dollars of direct Commonwealth funding for council projects and services. In a dramatic escalation of pressure […]
21 February, 2013
By Paul Hemsley The Australian workplace institution of the ‘smoko’ is set to be stubbed out for contract workers on government jobs. Clauses that ban smoking in government tender contracts are now being gradually introduced across the public sector, the Australian National Preventive Health Agency (ANPHA) says. The move to extinguish the carcinogenic addiction in […]
15 August, 2012End of content
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