MUST WATCH AND LISTEN VIDEO / RADIO – JAN – JULY2016
MINISTER ROB STOKES CONFESSES THE GOVERNMENT HAD NO MANDATE TO FORCE COUNCIL MERGERS – SOCC and Pittwater residents. June 2016.
PROTEST MARCH AGAINST MIKE BAIRD May 29 2015
Opening speech – MC – Alex McKinnon
“The people you are going to hear from today don’t have much in common on the face of it.. – but all these different people.. have a powerful thing in common – the actions of Mike Baird’s State Government have made them sit up and take notice, and ask, “Whose city is this? Whose State is this?” It doesn’t matter what your issue is – whether it’s Westconnex ruining your community, or your local council getting sacked, or the lock-outs gutting Sydney’s night life, or the CSG and mining companies ruining the environment, … or the police getting powers to jail protesters, or pensioners in Millers Point getting kicked out of their houses, or the indigenous artefacts and fig trees they are bulldozing over in Randwick , or privatisation of disability services,… or Tafe getting gutted.., or the great monstrosity of a casino going up on public land.. or the womens’ shelters that have had to shut.. Instead of the government this state and this city deserves we are run instead by a group of the most morally bankrupt, casually authoritarian, religious fundamentalist, ethically compromised, unapologetically mediocre bunch of xs you can imagine – Mike Baird; Troy Grant; Duncan Gay; Andrew Scipione.. – people so devoid of imagination.. that the only use they can think of, for the immense power given them is not to make vulnerable peoples lives better, or pursue a vision of what this state could be, but to act as errand boys for the rich and the powerful.. to rubber stamp financially ruinous, environmentally disastrous mega-projects whose only purpose is to flare the vanity of their financiers, to allow one of the greatest cities on earth to be turned into a concrete graveyard in exchange for cheques to party head office every election year, and who inscribe their bigotries and natural prejudices into law in their spare time. It doesn’t matter what your issue is, at some point you will ask yourself the same question..- “Whose city is this? Whose State is this?” .. You look around, you have your answer – because the truth is at the moment we do not run this city, we don’t run this state – this government doesn’t work for the people who voted for it – it works for the corporations that pay for it – mining and CSG companies, property tycoons, gambling establishments, corporate creditors… We are living in a state where the Premier and our own government regard us with a mixture of fear and contempt – a government so terrified of its own people that it makes protest illegal, bans any form of democracy it finds inconvenient, and equips a politicised and militarised police force with any power necessary to enforce it’s agenda. This isn’t a question of conflicting ideas, this isn’t a question of political differences, this is about whether we live in a democracy or just the appearance of one. When you march on State Parliament today remember, the only thing more potent than their contempt for you, is their fear of you. They know their power is predicated on your apathy, on your weariness, on your willingness to throw up your hands and say “it’s all too hard, I can’t fight anymore.” But if we are smart, if we are engaged, if we are informed, if we are angry and persistent, their days are numbered… They are no match for us, and they are about to learn that… Let’s march on State parliament, let’s take our city back, let’s take our State back, let’s take our democracy back – are you with me?
SECOND SPEAKER: “Mike Baird is out of control” – Darcy Byrne – emeritus Mayor Leichart Council
THIRD SPEAKER: “People are in open revolt against Mike Baird’s attack on local democracy”. – David Shoebridge from The Greens Party NSW
COUNCIL MEETINGS ERUPT IN PROTEST FOLLOWING FORCED MERGERS:
Mid-Coast Council Meeting Erupts in Protest – May 25 2016
MAY 24 2016 – First Meeting of new amalgamated Inner West Council erupts in protest.
Alan Jones – Luke Foley 13 May 2016
Alan talks to the state Opposition leader about the Baird government’s programme of forced council amalgamations
COUNCIL MERGER D-DAY FURY
Council merger D Day (video)
PRIME7 May 12, 2016 – Tension is growing within the New South Wales Nationals Party.
Today’s announcement, which sees a number of regional councils forced to merge, has upset MPs who’ve campaigned hard for them to stand alone.
PRIME7’s state political reporter Kathleen Curry has more.
Major backlash over council mergers (video)
PRIME7 May 12, 2016 – Local Council amalgamation D-Day has arrived, and the news is not good for small councils who fought to stand alone.
Gundagai Council’s mayor has labelled the State Government’s decision a farce, as councillors process the news they’re out of a job.
9NEWS 12 May 2016
NSW Premier Mike Baird announces 19 new councils under amalgamation plan
Ten Eyewitness News 12 May 2016
The state government has confirmed controversial council mergers, as protesters against the plans call for the premier to go
7News Sydney 12 May 2016
Premier Mike Baird has rammed through his controversial Local Government mergers announcing 19 new councils starting today.
ABC NEWS May 12 2016 – FURY OVER FORCED COUNCIL MERGERS – With additional commentary from Pittwater pathways – “PITTWATER DETROYED – ROB STOKES WILL RESIGN”
SACKED WITHOUT WARNING – NSW GOVERNMENT RUSHES THROUGH FORCED MERGERS – ABC NEWS May 12 2016
Bronwyn Bishop Federal Member for Mackellar – opposes amalgamation of the Northern Beaches Councils – Alan Jones 2GB 12 May 2016
Alan Jones blasts Mike Baird SMH 12 May 2016
Alan Jones accuses Premier Mike Baird of a “deliberate campaign to torpedo” Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, on his 2GB radio show.
LAUNCH OF SAVE OUR COUNCILS FEDERAL ELECTION “NO-FORCED AMALGAMATION” CAMPAIGN – With “Pledge for Local Democracy” for candidates to sign to demonstrate the commitment of their party to oppose forced amalgamations.
ALAN JONES interviews Mike Danzey about Waverley Rally against council amalgamations 5 May 16
DEPUTY PM OPPOSES FORCED COUNCIL MERGERS – ABC NEWS MAY 2 2016
ALAN JONES – interview with MaryAnn Beregi and Martin Bass – Exposing huge inconsistencies in the KPMG modelling underpinning the Governments forced merger Financial Business Case – April 29 2016
ALAN JONES – interview with George Spring Walcha re Rural councils Legal Action against forced mergers – April 18 2016
GUN TO THE HEAD OF COUNCILLORS
GUN TO THE HEAD OF COUNCILLORS – ABC NEWS March 26 2016
NSW Council amalgamations: Request for Mayors, Councillors to apply for new roles “undemocratic” – ABC News March 26 2016
ANTI-AMALGAMATION VIDEOS RESOURCE SITE – FACTS NOT FICTION ![Capture[3]](https://savehuntershill.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/capture3.jpg?w=736)
RALLY FOR LOCAL DEMOCRACY NOT DICTATORSHIP – SPEECHES MARCH 13 2016
Phil Jenkyn AOM – Save Our Councils / Save Hunters Hill Municipality
The Baird Government – The Liberal/National Party – is breaching basic democratic principles on many issues. Destroying or damaging democratic institutions including local councils – Failing to respect and listen to the will of the people – Deliberately lying to and deceiving the public – Ignoring or downplaying social, environmental and heritage issues – Favouring development at any cost over legitimate community concerns and needs.
We all get to vote – None of us are going away – People power will prevail!
David Shoebridge MLC – The Greens
Baird’s arrogance is leading to a citizens revolt across this State.
The battle against forced council amalgamations – we will win it in the courts, we will win it in the streets and we will win it in the Parliament.
We are not going to be bulldozed by an arrogant out of touch State Government.
The Hon. Peter Thomas PRIMROSE, B SocStud(Syd) MLC – Shadow Minister for Local Government
This fight is bringing together people across the political spectrum. People don’t want their councils forcibly merged. They are telling Premier Baird – stop bullying us.
Local communities should be allowed to decide their own fate.
This will become an issue for the Federal Election.
JEFF MORRIS – DEPUTY MAYOR NORTH SYDNEY
Why is Mike Baird running from the community on this issue?
He knows the people do not want forced council amalgamations. He doesn’t care what the people think.
A leader who doesn’t care what the community thinks has lost the right to govern. We should be talking today about sacking Baird not sacking the councils.
If the Liberal Party doesn’t drop this affront to democracy that is forced council amalgamations we will be out campaigning during the Federal Election.
MICHAEL DALEY MP – LABOR DEPUTY LEADER
Mike Baird does not care about local communities.
Local government is the layer of government closest to the people.
Baird is trampling on communities, he is trampling on the law, and he has no regard for due process.
Stop this nonsense now. Let’s make this a Federal Election issue.
COMMUNITY ANGER AS INQUIRIES BEGIN
ALAN JONES OPENS FIRE ON MIKE BAIRD OVER LOCK-OUT LAWS AND AMALGAMATIONS March 11 2016
VIDEOS FROM SAVE HUNTERS HILL COMMUNITY RALLY
- HUNTERS HILL COMMUNITY RALLY – NO AMALGAMATION
- VOICES OF HUNTERS HILL
- SPEECH – MAYOR RICHARD QUINN
- SPEECH – PHIL JENKYN OAM
- COMMUNITY BBQ
- CLOUD CUCKOO LAND – THE GOVERNMENT IS “QUISLING”
SHHMC – PHIL JENKYN RADIO INTERVIEW – CALL TO ARMS RALLY TO SAVE HUNTERS HILL
STATE-WIDE PUBLIC ANGER EVIDENT AS PUBLIC INQUIRIES BEGIN
QUEENSLAND COUNCIL MERGERS A DISASTROUS AND COSTLY MISTAKE – ABC NEWS Feb 16 2016
ABC NEWS – COUNCIL AMALGAMATION PUBLIC INQUIRY – CRITICS ARE CALLING IT A FARCE – Feb 2 2016
Fiery meetings have been held across Sydney 9 TV News – 2 Feb 2016
Tempers flare at amalgamation meetings Seven TV News – 2 Feb 2016
Forced council mergers fuels outrage Ten TV News – 2 Feb 2016
Merger fight heats up in NSW Prime7 TV News – 2 Feb 2016
ALAN JONES RADIO INTERVIEWS
ALAN JONES – BULLYING by NSW STATE GOVERNMENT – Interview Carolyn Corrigan Deputy Mayor Mosman – Mon March 7 2016
ALAN JONES – PREMIER MIKE BAIRD CHALLENGED OVER FORCED AMALGAMATIONS – Feb 11 2016
ALAN JONES – TALKS TO TONY WINDSOR and MAYOR of WALCHA – Feb 8 2016
ALAN JONES SLAMS GOVERNMENT OVER FORCED AMALGAMATIONS – FEB 3 2016
ALAN JONES TALKS TO PROF DENNIS BOBYN – JUNE 16 2016. Prof Sydney University – Probability analysis of delegates reports reveals bias in delegate decision making, and that the process was not independent.
ALAN JONES TALKS TO SMH JOURNALIST ANNE DAVIES Re FORCED COUNCIL MERGERS
SAVE HUNTERS HILL MUNICIPALITY 