The Queensland Local Government Reform Alliance Inc (QLGRA) is a non-partisan alliance of groups and individuals united in the goal of reforming Local Government and Planning Legislation and processes for the re-empowering of Queensland Local Communities.
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Current Newsletters
QLGRA 
Across Qld the areas who have lost effective voice in their governance, are growing more hopeful as they band together to lobby for better governance. They have not been placated by official panaceas and grow daily more determined to fight for a real say in their areas. QLGRA is uniting the hearts and efforts of those who can see the benefits of boosting local resilience in place of the undemocratic machines currently wasting our time and money. If you are reading this and feel the same I urge you to join with us in the fight – UNITED WE STAND!
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Jo sent the following comment about amalgamations in Arizona where some districts have been able to de-merge from their larger amalgamated region, “You will get a laugh out this. I had to ring Godaddy – got talking to Jesse who wanted to know what our group was about – well it turns out Jesse lives in Santan Valley, Arizona, and they have just separated from Clear Creek because they were not being treated well by the Council. So now they have their own council and their own zip code!! but now when you say you come from Santan Valley no one knows where it is (anymore) – and it took them 3 years to achieve this status!!” Does it sound familiar. One Queensland Mayor is on record saying “Communities have lost identity” because of the amalgamation. The sooner we de-merge the sooner the communities will get identity back!
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http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-18/new-group-pushes-for-more-qld-council-de-amalgamations/4828366
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I’ve recently had reason (basically Gold Coast Council bureaucrazies trying their typical little tin god bit despite being 100% in the wrong) to do a bit of background research on the subject of local government & in doing so I stumbled across the subject of federal constitutional legitimacy (or rather the lack thereof) in respect of councils. Seems a number of high court decisions have acknowledged there is no such thing as a third tier of ‘government’ ergo local authorities are not legitimate ‘governments’ but really no more than bodies corporate. Maybe others are far ahead of me in this area & if so I’d appreciate any input they can provide. Anyway, I understand that even Crisafulli (not being exactly the sharpest pencil in the pack) has some awareness of the issue (see Local Government and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2012 which provides for the restoration of body corporate status to Queensland local governments). I guess that politicians being the power-mad individuals they invariably are, its near impossible for them to dispense with the concept of ‘government’ even though its been proven to be inapplicable in respect of councils. That leads me to wonder why we can’t demand councils follow body corporate laws which would as far as I’m aware give the sheeple infinitely more control over petty tyrants like GCC mayor Tate. I’d dearly love to see that smarmy smirk rubbed of his ugly mush. On a slightly different tangent, I see an article in the Fairfax press claiming Boy Blunder Bleijie is proposing legislation to allow Queenslanders to use class-action lawsuits against government entities. I can think of quite a few actions that are justified against the incumbent dictatorship.
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I am beginning to gather information and people’s views on the de-amalgamation of Fraser Coast Council. The more people I speak to in Maryborough, the more I find are very dissatisfied with the amalgamation. The perceptions are that Maryborough is being treated like a suburb of Hervey Bay and not like the City it used to be. How stupid is it to amalgamate two Cities? Now Maryborough, which was a debt free Council pre-amalgamation, is burdened by Hervey Bays debt. And Maryborough is burdened by Hervey Bay rates and charges which were the highest in the state. The same goes for the old Wacoo and Tiaro Council areas. The people are not happy, and feel like they have been downgraded. Has the QLGRA received any other contact from dis-allusioned Maryborough people or businesses? We want our Council back. We want our City back.
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