2 November 2012

Maori Party and United Future urged to vote down local government legislation
The Public Service Association is calling on the government’s support parties to stand up for local democracy and vote down legislation on local government reform.

MPs on the Local Government and Environment select committee reached deadlock on the Local Government Act Amendment Bill and were unable to agree that it should be passed. As a result government members have pushed it through for a second reading with no significant changes.

The PSA firmly believes the legislation is unnecessary and will only serve to undermine local democracy and decision-making. It will also extend the government’s public service staffing cap ideology into local government and open the door up to more contracting out of council services and infrastructure.

“It’s no surprise that the select committee is divided on the legislation as it is ill-conceived and will make councils less responsive to the needs of their own individual communities,” says PSA National Secretary Brenda Pilott.

Almost every submission made to the select committee raised serious concerns about the bill or stated clear opposition, including a unified position from councils around the country.”

Brenda Pilott says “while we would hope that the government would listen to that opposition it’s likely it will continue to push its reform agenda and push the legislation through parliament with few amendments.”

“That means the ball is now in the court of the Maori Party and United Future’s Peter Dunne. They need to have the courage to stand up for local communities and democracy and vote against it.”

ENDS

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