” The amalgamations affecting Councils in the SE of NSW, including Tallaganda and Yarrowlumla, is a decision that rides roughshod over the wishes of local communities”, spokesperson for Braidwood Greens and three-time candidate for Monaro Catherine Moore said today.”The community day of action, the submissions to the Upper House and other inquiries and the protest from communities around this and other regions have all been ignored by the Labour Government,” she said.

“In a clear departure from the Government’s pre-State Election promise of no forced amalgamations, the Minister has shown arrogance and a flagrant disregard for the democratic process by announcing such a rearrangement weeks out from the elections.

“Jobs, local identity and community services and stability are all under threat, and what is most disheartening is that council amalgamations elsewhere have not been shown to be cost saving or to increase efficiency.”

The Greens are encouraging residents to get behind their councils and send the Government a message at the polls on Local Government election day, now postponed is those areas where Councils have had the amalgamations imposed upon them.

“Voters do not always have the short memories that governments think they do, and this act of democratic vandalism will not be forgotten when people go to the polls in the 2007 State Election”, Catherine Moore concluded.