A letter has surfaced this week detailing the position of the Liberal and National Parties before the last Federal election. It was sent to Oberon Mayor Keith Sullivan and includes: (The then former Leader of the Opposition) Barry O’Farrell, Andrew Stoner (Leader of the Nationals) and current Local Government Minister Paul Toole before he was elected to the Federal Seat of Bathurst. It seems apparent all three men did not support forced amalgamations and made the statement “We believe the amalgamation of Councils should only be a result of mutual agreement. It should not be forced by State Government intervention.” As we all know by now, the new government backflipped on these statements when Paul Toole the current Local Government Minister and new leader Mike Baird forced the mergers of Harden, Boorowa and Young on May 12.