CONTINUING community anger over the Baird Government’s forced amalgamations policy has created some unusual – and unexpected – political bedfellows in this state.
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And the strength of opposition to the mergers – particularly in smaller council areas across the state – has seen local residents welcome with open arms any MP who promises to stand beside them, regardless of their party.
We don’t have to look far to see this phenomenon in action.
As Oberon locals continue to vehemently oppose plans to merge their council with Bathurst, the town has suddenly become a destination of choice for opposition and minor party MPs.
Labor’s local government spokesman Peter Primrose dropped in for a visit yesterday as part of a tour of the Central West and spoke with members of the Anti Amalgamation Committee.
With Labor’s Bathurst electorate council president Cass Coleman at his side, Mr Primrose delivered the message that Labor leader Luke Foley would not support forced mergers.
Tomorrow, it will be Greens MP David Shoebridge who leads a community meeting in Oberon to discuss “where to now” in the amalgamation process, and he is sure to be warmly received.
What a difference a year makes.
It was just last March that the Greens and Labor managed just 26 per cent of the Oberon vote between them at the state election.
Ms Coleman picked up just 327 first preference votes for Labor, while the Greens’ Tracey Carpenter fared even worse, polling just 59.
At the same time, the Nationals’ Paul Toole – now the focus of so much of the community’s anger – picked up 1044 of the 1483 formal first preference votes to score a resounding victory.
One can only wonder what the result might be if another poll was held today.
