COALITION SUPPORTS COUNCIL AGAINST CCT

COALITION SUPPORTS COUNCIL AGAINST CCT

1st January 1999

Member for Lismore, Thomas George, has joined Shadow Minister for Local Government, Duncan Gay, in backing local councils who rallied around the state yesterday in opposition to the introduction of Compulsory Competitive Tendering (CCT).

"To see 600 council workers turn out in Kyogle and another 400 at Boorowa is a clear signal of the growing opposition to this legislation", said Mr George

"CCT has the potential to take jobs and money out of regional areas at a time when these places can least afford it. For example, the Municipal Employees Union has calculated the introduction of CCT would mean:

1)    The loss of $1.7 million to Richmond River Shire
2)    The loss of $3 million to Kyogle
3)    The loss of $1.14 million to Lismore

"Those figures have been calculated only on the first twelve months - the flow on effects from CCT will be far worse.

"Competitive tendering for work on state roads maybe the last straw for our regional areas. These are jobs and investment which are badly needed.

"If the Minister for Roads takes a good look outside the Sydney region, he would see the impact this legislation will have.

"Along with Member for Burrinjuck, Katrina Hodgkinson, Member for Monaro, Peter Webb and Shadow Roads Minister and Member for Myall Lakes, John Turner, I met with a group of council representatives from some of the affected areas yesterday. We were impressed with the validity of their arguments, and it's a pity they weren't able to get more sense out of the Minister, Mr Carl Scully.

"Councils are now preparing to bring their protests to Parliament House next Thursday September 16. I have arranged for a delegation of concerned councillors and council workers to meet with Duncan Gay and John Turner over this issue.

"On behalf of the Coalition I fully support their call for CCT to be reconsidered, and vow to do everything I can to bring some sense to this city-centric Government" Mr George concluded.