Council amalgamations and mergers

Grantley Ingram from the Demerge NSW Alliance said the 2016 forced amalgamation of councils has been a “failure” and called on NSW MPs to support binding plebiscites on council deamalgamations. Pip Hinman reports.

The Demerge NSW Alliance is asking Labor to amend the Local Government Act to give residents in forcibly merged councils more say. Pip Hinman spoke to Brian Halstead from Save Our Councils and DNA about why the changes are important.

Judy Hannan (left)

Suzanne James spoke to newly-elected female Independent MP Judy Hannan about the opportunities for a progressive cross-bench with a minority NSW Labor government.

Suzanne James talks to Judy Hannan, newly elected Independent MP for Wollondilly and Southern Highlands in NSW.

Kobi Shetty and Philippa Scott

Residents for Deamalgamation confronted Labor's Philippa Scott and The Greens' Kobi Shetty about their views on demerging Inner West Council. Pip Hinman reports.

Labor Mayor Darcy Byrne has told Greens and Independent councillors to develop their own business case for demerger if they do not like what is on offer. Peter Boyle reports.

Residents of the Inner West Sydney community, and many suburbs beyond to Penrith, lost a great activist for social and environmental justice, write Adrienne Shilling and Peter Hehir.

Residents concerned about local democracy from as far as Bombala and the Central Coast as well as Pittwater lobbied NSW Labor delegates to keep councils local. Video and report by Peter Boyle.

The NSW local government minister's support for Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council to demerge opens the way for other councils to deamalgamate. Pip Hinman reports. 

The New South Wales Coalition government’s forced amalgamation of councils looks set to become an election issue. Peter Boyle reports.

Town and country united in a Keep Councils Local rally at NSW parliament, where speakers called on the Coalition government to act. Video by Peter Boyle.

Inner West Labor councillors voted to put a problematic demerger business case on public exhibition, against the wishes of Greens and Independent councillors who said it needed more work. Peter Boyle reports.