The ' gun at the head " approach.

People in many parts of Australia will be concerned at the Queensland governments methods of enforcing the amalgamation of a huge number of local councils in that state.
Consultation and conciliation have been thrown out the window and the Brisbane approach is little more than " gun at head " tactics. Councils have been forbidden to consult with their ratepayers by way of local referendums - which is surely their right when a decision concerning residents is being proposed.
Prime Minister John Howard has entered the fray by offering to pay for any such referendum called by local councils - and this has been countered by the Queensland Premier threatening to sack any council that dares to go to the people.
To a large degree this is politics. Howard sees a way of attracting votes by siding with local residents and this has enraged the state Premier who considers it interference in a state matter.
This council amalgamation war in Queensland will be closely watched by the other states. From time to time there have been suggestions of council amalgamations in various parts of the country. Inevitably this has been opposed by residents who fear being swallowed up be a larger council and losing a local say on how their rate money will be spent.
There is also an argument in favour of amalgamations on the grounds of efficiency of resources. Smaller councils tend to duplicate plant and machinery which might be better employed within a larger programme of works.
It all boils down to the system of government we have chosen. The three tiers - Federal, state and municipal - are all voted into office by the residents and given powers to make the laws by which we must live.
There are times when those laws do not meet the approval of all the residents, but in a democracy those opposed must bow to the will of the majority.
But that only goes so far. When an elected body drops the guillotine on comment and tries to force through measures that directly affect the life of citizens then a line has been crossed.
To forbid residents to have their say on an unpopular measure is a denial of the right of freedom of speech - and that is the cornerstone of democracy.
The issue here is not the amalgamation of councils. The issue is the right of ordinary people to have their say and let the government hear their wishes.
Any government that denies that right is skating on thin ice !