“ALP SUFFERS ELECTORAL DRUBBING IN WOLLONGONG COUNCIL ELECTION”
My analysis is the risk of above headling before the next State election is one of the main reasons why the NSW ALP government is denying the people of Wollongong a chance to elect our own Councillors at this time.
The editorial in the Sydney Morning Herald for MOnday 1 June says:
“Labor has probably already lost the next election” – NSW State election that is.
The NSW ALP party bosses know their electoral chances are better served if they can keep a lid on the stench of corruption now attached to the ALP in Wollongong. But that is not – and can never be – a valid reason to deny the people of Wollongong a democratically elected Council.
There have been plenty of statements from key players in Council affairs that the anti-corruption reforms are now securely in place and are working.
Council’s formal Management Plan 2009- 2012 and Strategic Directions document for 2009-2012 contain no programs under the name of a necessary anti-corruption reform process. There is no clear reform program from the Administrators showing what (if anything) remains be to done. Just vague statements which can be used as required when required.
There has been no clear reason giving as to why we should now not have an election for new Councillors.
I reckon the main reason we are being denied a local government election so that the NSW ALP can increase its chances of re-election at the State level.
They can easily prove me wrong by holding a WCC local government election before the next State election. (Mere words to the contrary from Minister for the Illawarra Campbell, by contrast, prove nothing.)
