Qld: Beattie explores legal options over Howard intervention

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2007
Qld: Beattie explores legal options over Howard intervention

BRISBANE, Aug 17 AAP - Queensland Premier Peter Beattie is examining his legal options
to counter federal intervention targeting his forced council mergers, even though he believes
the prime minister's move won't work.

Prime Minister John Howard yesterday introduced emergency laws to override state legislation
giving the Queensland government power to sack councils which hold polls on the forced
council amalgamations.

The number of local councils will be cut from 156 to 72 under new Queensland laws passed
last week.

Mr Beattie has threatened to challenge the federal legislation in the High Court.

"Our legal advice is it's (the federal government's legislation) very flimsy," Mr Beattie
told the Seven Network.

Mr Beattie said the federal bill deals with the Australian Electoral Commission's ability
to conduct council plebiscites rather than local councils themselves.

"As I said, it's in the section that talks about the Australian Electoral Commission
being able to offer their services for money," he said.

"It wouldn't last a High Court challenge to be honest. The issue is whether we bother
to do it or not."

Mr Beattie later said in a statement he would examine his legal options over the next
few days, despite believing Mr Howard's "silly stunt would fall over of its own accord".

He said the prime minister's intervention on the council amalgamations was politically
motivated, and the "vast majority" of Queensland councils had accepted the changes.

"John Howard is on the nose in Queensland and he knows it," Mr Beattie said.

"The polls must have really got him spooked if he is this desperate."

Opposition Leader Jeff Seeney said it was Mr Beattie who had to accept that Queensland
communities would get a say on the future of their councils.

He said Mr Beattie should also apologise to councils for threatening to sack them.

"The federal government's new laws aim to give communities back their voice and Peter
Beattie and his (local government) minister (Andrew Fraser) should stop whinging and just
let communities have the say they desperately want," Mr Seeney said.

He urged councils to contact the Australian Electoral Commission as soon as possible
to arrange a local plebiscite.

AAP rm/pjo/it/jlw

KEYWORD: COUNCILS BEATTIE LEAD

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.