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Articles on Local government referendum

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A public backlash against council amalgamations appears to have forced the NSW government to shift its position. Dan Himbrechts/AAP

Bush democracy wins out but council mergers continue in Sydney

The proposed amalgamation of 40 NSW councils has generated heated opposition. While public resistance has now won out in several regional communities, it’s a different story in the city.
Now that the local government referendum has been scrapped, what is the issue’s future? AAP/Sophie Marr

Local government fights for light despite a scrapped referendum

Local government has once again been crowded out of the limelight as the big boys fight for control of the Australian political sandpit. The referendum to give constitutional recognition to local government…
The federal government has suspended debate on a number of bills in the final parliamentary sitting week before the election. AAP/Lukas Coch

Is the government gagging the referendum debate?

The federal government has announced that it will gag debate on 53 bills in the Senate next week. One of them, the proposed constitutional amendment on the recognition of local government, is to be limited…
Will the push for constitutional recognition of local government actually improve Australia’s system of government? AAP/Alan Porritt

The perils of constitutional recognition of local government

Is this the referendum we don’t need to hold? And how many Australians truly understand the potential impact of their actions when they vote in referendum of the constitutional recognition of local government…
Has the Gillard government fully thought through its referendum on recognition for local government? AAP/Lukas Coch

Referendum chaos - do ministers really know what they are proposing?

I am not Nostradamus, but I am prepared to make a confident prediction. If the proposed constitutional amendment to recognise local government, in the form announced by press release last week, were to…
Cory Bernadi is calling on Tony Abbott to oppose the local government referendum. AAP/Alan Porritt

Bernardi calls for Coalition to oppose local government referendum

Liberal Senator Cory Bernadi has called on the federal Coalition to oppose the referendum to recognise local government in the constitution, which will be held with the September 14 election. Senator Bernadi…

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