The Coast’s Labor MPs are ramping up the pressure on Minister for Local Government, Wendy Tuckerman, and the NSW Government to release the findings of the public inquiry into Central Coast Council.
Tuckerman confirmed last week that she had received the review and was “doing due diligence around the recommendations” but refused to commit to a timeline for public disclosure.
Labor MPs Liesl Tesch (Gosford), David Harris (Wyong) and David Mehan (The Entrance) are demanding the findings be released immediately in the interests of community transparency.
“It took a Labor question at Estimates … to find out the new Minister for Local Government had received the final report from the public inquiry,” Harris said.
“Labor has consistently said there should be no considerations of additional rate increases until the community had clear answers about what went wrong with the Council finances.
“Whatever the outcome of the report, the NSW Government has a responsibility after merging the (Gosford and Wyong) Councils to throw a financial lifeline to reduce the burden on our community.”
Mehan said the public should be given the opportunity to comment on the findings before the Government gives its response while Tesch accused the Government of “hiding” the report.
“After an unwanted forced amalgamation, three administrators, and revolving door management for more than eight years we have been left with higher rates, sacked Council staff and our assets have been sold off,” she said.
“Our community deserves to know the truth about Central Coast Council.
“Until we get this report we cannot fix the problems of the past, restore the trust in Council and move forward to make our community a better place to live.”
When asked at Budget Estimates by Opposition MP Mark Buttigieg if she thought the ratepayers of the Central Coast deserved some answers, Tuckerman replied “absolutely”.
“I will be making sure that I am giving a timely answer with those considerations in place’” she said.
The Minister gave no indication as to how long she has had the report, did not reveal any of its contents and refused to commit to a date for public release.
The public inquiry into the financial crises of the Council was called in late April last year by the former Minister for Local Government, Shelley Hancock.
Public interviews of the key players concluded in October last year.
The Commissioner also interviewed some people in private but the public was never told who those people were and no transcripts were released.
Terry Collins