The Tasmanian Government want to remove 50 councillors statewide with the draft Bill to facilitate this never being released for public consultation. Disturbingly, the Bill also establishes new processes to remove even more Councillors without public consultation. 

Tasmanians may have mixed views on reducing councillor numbers, but they should at least be given the opportunity to have their say.

Local Government is critically important as it is responsible for implementing our planning system which regulates use and development across our municipalities.

Local Government affects our everyday lives and is where communities have a say on developments, where elected Councillors are held accountable and where development decisions can be appealed.

We are calling on the Legislative Council to release the Bill for public consultation. If the Government will not commit to that, we are calling on the Legislative Council to vote the Bill down, or remove the contentious changes to councillor numbers entirely.