The Australian Experience of Municipal Amalgamation: Asking the Citizenry and Exploring the Implications

Ryan, Roberta; Hastings, Catherine; Grant, Bligh; Lawrie, Alex; Shé, Éidín Ní; Wortley, Liana

doi:10.1111/1467-8500.12182

Cited by 20 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…In Australia, Ryan et al (2015) surveyed 2,006 individuals and found that citizens were ambivalent towards amalgamations, although their attitudes were influenced by particular demographic characteristics and attitudes towards representation, belonging, service delivery requirements and the associated costs. The results suggest that, excluding impacts on the local government sector itself, structural reform may not be the distressing issue it is often portrayed as.…”

Section: Perception-based Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Municipal amalgamations and their effects: a literature review

Tavares

2018

Miscellanea Geographica

112

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Municipal amalgamation reforms have been advocated as ways to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance capacity in local government service provision. Research on the consequences of amalgamations has reached maturity in terms of theories, research designs and methods, justifying a systematic survey of results. This article provides a synthesis of the empirical literature published over the last 20 years, organizing the effects of amalgamations into three categories: economic efficiency and cost savings, managerial implications, and democratic outcomes. Despite the significant variation across countries and reforms, some regularities emerge: cost savings being primarily limited to general administration expenditures (wages, office supplies, and so on), few changes in the quality of local services, and the diminished quality of local democracy. Several studies point to amalgamation reforms experiencing a trade-off between efficiency and democracy.

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Section: Perception-based Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Municipal amalgamations and their effects: a literature review

Tavares

2018

Miscellanea Geographica

112

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“…In a climate of constant reforms and amalgamations, many of which are acrimonious in nature (see, eg Ryan et al. :3–5), it is conceivable that local governments will pay a price for advocacy. Third, the recommendations to raise rates by Canada Bay and Melbourne were accepted by their respective wider communities.…”

Section: Critical Issues For Future Pb In Australiamentioning

confidence: 99%

Participatory Budgeting in Australian Local Government: An Initial Assessment and Critical Issues

Christensen

Grant

2016

Aust J Public Adm

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Participatory budgeting (PB), a process whereby governments seek direct input from citizens into financial decisions, is gaining a foothold in the community engagement practices of Australian local governments. Following questions of definition, we survey the theoretical terrain, locating PB within several components of local democracy. We then provide details of six PB processes in New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia. We identify several questions for the future of PB in Australian local governments, including the role of deliberative practices as part of the broader work of councils, the issue of the adaptability of councils and leaders, the impacts upon state and local governments, and the role of third parties. The article concludes by reflecting on how PB sits with democratic practices at the local level if it continues to be implemented.

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“…For example, Drew and Dollery () reported that the proposed amalgamations would not secure enhanced financial sustainability, whereas Drew, Kortt, and Dollery's () study critically analysed the scale and economic logic of the council amalgamation policy recommendation panel (Independent Local Government Review Panel, ILGRP). Furthermore, Ryan et al () examined citizens' attitudes towards amalgamation and revealed that residents were uncertain. In parallel, Drew and Dollery's () assessment of the FFTF process raised concerns regarding errors and unreliable data.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

NSW local government reform: Council amalgamation, antagonism, and resistance

Uddin

2018

Journal of Public Affairs

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The New South Wales State Government announced its local government strategic reform programme Fit for the Future in 2014. At the centre of the plan was the desire to reduce the number of local government areas. Opponents mobilised various resistance strategies to challenge amalgamation. However, the initial efforts to resist amalgamation failed but opponents got success in opposing amalgamation via the legal system. As such, the New South Wales State Government was forced to abandon its plans to amalgamate some regional and metropolitan councils in response to community opposition and resistance. Despite a growing body of existing literature, to date, the analyses of local government reform fail to examine the rationale and strategies of community opposition. To examine the public participation, community opposition, and resistance, this paper draws on the research that pertains to the proposed merger of the Ryde, Lane Cove, and Hunters Hill councils.

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The Australian Experience of Municipal Amalgamation: Asking the Citizenry and Exploring the Implications

Cited by 20 publications

References 19 publications

Municipal amalgamations and their effects: a literature review

Municipal amalgamations and their effects: a literature review

Participatory Budgeting in Australian Local Government: An Initial Assessment and Critical Issues

NSW local government reform: Council amalgamation, antagonism, and resistance

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