Greg Warren MPNSW Government must take Responsibility for Central Coast Council Chaos
NSW Labor said the Berejiklian Government had to take responsibility for its role that
led to the Central Coast Council’s dire financial woes.
Yesterday, Minister for Local Government, Shelley Hancock, announced a public inquiry
would be held into the council’s financial state.
The announcement was made despite growing calls from the community on the Central
Coast for a more thorough judicial inquiry.
Shadow Minister for Local Government, Greg Warren MP, said NSW Liberals and NSW
Nationals could not escape the reality that the forced merger of Wyong and Gosford
councils, contributed to Central Coast Council’s spiralling trajectory.
“There is absolutely no doubt that the government’s decision to forcibly merge Wyong
and Gosford councils had a significant impact on the financial woes of the Central Coast
Council,” Mr Warren said.
“The Liberal-National Government’s fingerprints are all over this situation yet they
continue to plead their innocence.
“Minister Hancock must: put her hand up and take responsibility for this mess; and listen
to the community of the Central Coast and hold a judicial inquiry.
“More than 22,000 people signed a petition calling for the judicial inquiry, not just a
public inquiry.”
The council was placed into administration in October last year, with that period
extended in January this year.
At the announcement of the public hearing yesterday, Minister Hancock said the
administration period would continue until the hearing was complete.