Pic: Facebook.
NSW Local Government Minister Paul Toole wants to confer the title of ‘Honorary Councillor’ upon some of the local councillors he unceremoniously sacked in May this year when the state government forcibly amalgamated 42 councils.
Mr Toole wrote to the 19 new NSW councils last week, expressing his desire to recognise the contribution of ex-councillors currently serving on the local committees of new councils by giving them a title.
But the move might be too little too late for some councillors.
One of the loudest criticisms of the forced council mergers – some of which are still before the courts – is that the government’s battle plan entirely did away with any elected local representation on councils, all of which are now run by government-appointed administrators until local government elections in September 2017.
When the mergers were proclaimed some people criticised NSW Premier Mike Baird for failing to acknowledge the years of service given by former councillors and claiming that he had treated councillors shabbily.
At the time, Local Government NSW President Keith Rhoades slammed Mr Baird for sacking 378 local councillors without so much as a backward glance.
“He didn’t even have the respect or the manners to say: ‘I know this is a difficult time for those councillors involved and as Premier I wish to thank you for your services to the community of NSW and I wish you all the best’. In some cases it’s in excess of 40 years’ service,” Mr Rhoades told Government News.
Whether Mr Toole’s overture will be seen in a positive light by deposed councillors remains to be seen.
Reactions to follow.
The post Toole’s bestows ‘Honorary’ titles on sacked councillors appeared first on Government News.
source Government News http://ift.tt/2a8ZARF
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