Mr Veitch  and Mr Warren during a tour of the Riverina and Snowy Valleys

NSW Labor has demanded the Berejiklian-Barilaro Government release all documents, created since January 1, 2020, relating the proposed demergers of Snowy Valleys Council and Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council, by Wednesday, May 19, 2021.

A Standing Order 52, moved by Adam Searle MLC, introduced the following standing order in the NSW Legislative Assembly this week.

  • All documents relating to the proposal to demerge the Snowy Valleys Council, including all reports prepared by the Local Government Boundaries Commission for the Minister for Local Government
  • All documents relating to the proposal to demerge Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council, including all reports prepared by the Local Government Boundaries Commission for the Minister for Local Government; and
  • Any legal or other advice regarding the scope of validity of this order of the House created as a result of this order of the House
  • That this House calls on the Minister for Local Government to table the responses to reports prepared by the Local Government Boundaries Commission in relation to both demergers in the Legislative Council, on completion

Shadow Minister for Local Government, Greg Warren MP, said both communities had been kept in the dark for far too long.

“The Minister received the Local Government Boundaries Commission report more than two month ago, yet she still hasn’t made a decision,” he said.

“This is one of the most – if not the most – pressing matter in both communities at the moment, yet the Minister refuses to act.

“Every day the Minister stalls is another day of unnecessary anguish and frustration for the communities of Snowy Valleys Council and Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council.”

Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs and Cootamundra Duty MLC, Mick Veitch MLC, said the documents would should some light on what has been a sorry saga for all communities.

“The merged communities deserve some respect and transparency from the government,” he said.

“It is only fair that both communities have access to the same documents that the Minister for Local Government has.

“The mergers have caused the communities of both Snowy Valleys and Cootamundra-Gundagai, extreme distress – both financially and emotionally.

“I’m sure May 19 will be a date residents in both communities mark in the diaries with anticipation.”