Councillors Vote to Take Away Divisions
Re- Councillor renews her divisions commitment. The question would have to be asked, ‘what’s that commitment to’? As Cr Jan Watt changes her mind quicker than a jockey changes horses. Women are allowed to change their mind, but when it becomes like a revolving door, one has to wonder if a mind is present to change. On the other hand it might be the ‘prima donna’ plan, to confuse, to gain attention.
On the 1st August 2007 at a Cooloola Council meeting Cr Jan Watt voted to retain divisions in the new Gympie Regional Council. Later that same day during a combined meeting of Tairo, Kilkivan, and Cooloola Council, at the Pavilion, Cr Watt and 11 others voted to destroy the divisional voting system of this Region. That day, due to Cr Watt, Cr Larry Friske, Cr Donna Nielsen, Cr Ian Peterson, Cr Tony Perret and Cr Ron Dyne the people of the Gympie Regional Council, suffered a sad tragic loss of political freedom. Australians have sacrificed fortunes and lives for the principles of a meaningful vote and those councillors should be ashamed, as they betrayed our past hero’s for their own interest. Cr Noel Ellis, Cr Shane Jocumsen, Cr Marie Prior and myself were ones who voted to retain divisions. Cr Watt has changed her mind innumerable times since that sad occasion four years ago. On 10th March 2011 it was reported in GT, “I felt (my earlier views) pitted me against my colleagues, which I don’t like, so I’m happy to go with the (council) response.” and with her current words ‘only the kind of divisional representation on offer from the government’ she explains again why she ‘opposed’ divisions. Cr Watt only stands for one thing, re-election.
Electoral Divisions “Wards” are part of our nations representative system set down by our forefathers some of it enshrined in our Constitution. The first divisions are the States themselves, then we have federal electorate divisions and State electorate divisions and Local government divisions. The purpose is to ensure that voters share a commonality of numbers proportionate to interest and infer structure. These are part of voting RIGHTS and all are all formulated on divisions.
Most councils chose divisional voting where there is a shire consistency of alternate both High populations and Low density populated areas as this has been seen as fair to all concerned. If the federal system had no divisional representation Australia s government would be controlled entirely from Melbourne and Sydney. If the State had no divisions Brisbane would have complete control.
When divisions are removed, the outcome, is that total control is centralised in the highly populated area. The organisational and monetary consideration will ensure that the promotion of candidates will reside within the most political influential areas and groups.
Local issues identifiable to streets and small communities are the grass roots issues, the whole reason for Local Government. The issues with services in the past concern a representative who can identify with the residents in the local area. The current councillors know they have a huge advantage with a guilt edged free media profile, they know that their names will be recognised on the voting form, they know that recognition is beyond the means for an average unknown to successfully campaign against them. Recognise our current councillors names, scorch their names into your minds and make sure they do not ever get elected again.
Ron Owen