What is the relevance, to the statements made, of Bryan Mason writing glowingly of Paul Toole but never meeting him and Maisie’s late husband being involved in local councils for over 40 years?

Are these supposed to add weight to her statements?

Maisie asserts there were no problems when Evans Shire amalgamated with Bathurst.

Even the current member was against this amalgamation then and I believe Evans wasn’t in Oberon’s happy position.

Paul Toole has done some good things, but, please, accusing some people of nastiness is going too far.

You have every right to disagree with Marj Armstrong’s statement that Mr Toole might not live long enough to have the Oberon ratepayers trust him again – I guess this is what you call nastiness.

Maisie, you ask that instead of nastiness, people stop and think. Doing this, it is reasonable to see how the broken trust will take a long time to restore – if ever.

I believe Oberon Council and the Oberon people have conducted themselves admirably considering the circumstances.

Being the member for this area, it would behove Mr Toole to be representing all of his constituents, not just the chosen few.

So, as the previous Local Government Minister, ignoring his constituents in an area that he wants to bulldoze in to amalgamating with Bathurst, not answering requests for consultation or meetings to try to present their side of why they didn’t want amalgamation, and a lack of common manners regarding the Oberon mayor being included in functions/announcements – what would you call this?

A few weeks ago, the editorial was exhorting us to respect our politicians, ending with a statement of respect being a two-way street.

Where was the respect from the local member for his constituents?

ON March 19, 2015, the now Premier Gladys Berejiklian told a Meet The Candidates Forum in Chatswood: “I think it is important to us to keep local government local to the people … and there will be nothing people will be forced into …”

On March 18, 2015, the now Deputy Premier John Barilaro told a Meet The Candidates Forum in Bombala: “Let me be clear, there will be no forced amalgamations in this region. I will be guided by my community. I will keep ‘local’ in local government.”

On October 11, 2015, the now Minister for Local Government Gabrielle Upton told a rally at Double Bay: “I believe there is no perfect size for a council and what works here [Woollahra] may not work for those that are three streets to our south.”

The Premier, the Deputy Premier, and the Minister for Local Government should apologise to all those communities across NSW that they misled in 2015, and keep their undertakings to not impose forced council mergers anywhere in our state.