NSW Opposition calls for 'broad inquiry' into council
The NSW Labor Opposition has called for the government to "establish a broad inquiry to investigate the Central Coast Council's dire financial woes".
Shadow Minister for the Central Coast, Mr David Harris, said: "Only an inquiry which examines the Fit for the Future process, as well as issues related to transition under the first administrator, the role of current staff and councillors and the failure of the internal and external audit process, will offer the transparency our community needs,"
He said Central Coast residents had suffered greatly and the Government owed them full transparency on this issue.
Mr Harris said the community has also raised concerns about the terms of reference for the public inquiry being too narrow.
"The Premier is abandoning Central Coast ratepayers, who are now subject to higher rates, reduced services, asset sales and staff cuts without a full inquiry to identify all of the reasons behind the financial collapse.
"The Premier can't hide on this issue.
"She was at the Cabinet table when mergers were forced onto communities."
Mr Harris said that more than 21,000 people had signed a petition calling for a judicial inquiry, not just a public inquiry.
SOURCE:
Media release, 1 May 2021
David Harris, Shadow Minister for the Central Coast