NSW Labor has ramped up pressure on the State Government to release its findings of the public inquiry into Central Coast Council.
Minister for Local Government, Wendy Tuckerman, confirmed on March 8 during budget estimates she had received the report but could not give a timeline on its release due to her “due diligence around the recommendations.”
Tuckerman said she will ensure she gives a “timely answer” but didn’t disclose how long she has had the report or reveal any of its contents.
Shadow Minister for the Local Government, Greg Warren, spoke outside the former Gosford Council Chambers on March 15 and demanded its immediate release.
“The cloak of secrecy must be lifted around this report,” Warren said.
“The people of the Central Coast deserve to know what is in that report so that they can have a greater understanding what has happened to their community, why their Council fell apart and the plan going forward and support they need going forward.
“If the government continues to hide this away, one can only be left to ponder that this is a direct outcome from their forcibly merged Councils of Gosford and Wyong.
“We know that those two Councils were already struggling, we know the adverse financial effects it has had on this community, what we don’t know is what’s in that report.
“They simply need to table this report – it’s the community’s report, it’s not the Liberal Party’s, it’s not the Government’s, this is the people of the Central Coast’s report.
“She needs to do it today … now is the time transparency is delivered.”
Warren said he held concerns over the motivation behind the delayed release.
“There’s more spiderwebs around this issue as you go back in history then you’d find in a dormitory. The government has been very sneaky about this right from the get-go,” Warren said.
“We know that the forcibly merged process from this government was politically motivated and quite frankly, why should the people of the Central Coast pay the price for what is ultimately a failed government policy.”
Labor MPs argued the community should be able to receive and read the report, and comment on the recommendations before the NSW Government responds to them.
Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch, said trust in Council cannot be restored until the report is released.
“Let’s hope the Minister fronts up with at least $100M to put in this community, probably $200M if you count the IPART loss we have had over the last three years.
However Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch, lashed back at the claims.
“This is appalling politics by the Labor members … the Minister has to table the report into Parliament and then it will be made public,” Crouch said.
“I suspect the report will be tabled as soon as we get back into parliament.
“It’s disingenuous as there is no one in the Gosford Chambers – it just shows they have no idea what’s going on.
“Let’s be really clear that the Labor Councillors’ legacy is a decade of higher rates … people need to remember who is responsible.
“As a rate payer I am just as furious as everyone else.”
The public inquiry into the financial crises of the Council was called in April 2021 by the former Minister for Local Government, Shelley Hancock.
Maisy Rae
It would appear that there needs to be a demerger of Gosford & Wyong Councils. The rate payers of these 2 councils deserve better!