So, by now you’ve probably heard that Liverpool council is once again under threat of being placed in administration. The Council has until Friday 26th July to give cause as to why it should not be suspended, and an administrator appointed. Leaving the people of Liverpool without the right to democratically elect their own council, for months, potentially years.
With 10 CEOs in 8 years the council was described as “dysfunctional” by Ron Hoeing the ALP state minister for local government, and he has given Mayor Ned Mannoun and his council until Friday of this week to give cause (a good reason) why they shouldn’t be suspended, and an administrator appointed.
Ned’s political opponents are of course quite happy with this move, press statements from former counsellors, now state members, are positively glowing about the news. One former counsellor and independent local advocate saying its time to “drain the swamp”.
However, a question must be asked, why did the member for local government wait until it was just 50 days out from the election to launch this action?
As of publication the ALP have not put forward a candidate for the position of Mayor of Liverpool. The two heavyweights of Liverpool council who had the best chance of taking the position of Mayor of Liverpool for the ALP, Nathan Hagarty MP and Charishma Kaliyanda MP, are now both state members for the ALP and will not be running against Mannoun.
So is there a question to be asked about timing and political gain, with this move by the minister for local councils?
If Ned Mannoun was such an incompetent mayor and his council so dysfunctional, then wouldn’t they have been ousted by the voters in just 50 days? Do the people of Liverpool deserve the right to decide their own fate? Or did the Minister for local government do the right thing by stepping in, even if it is so close to an election?
We here at KNL are completely bi-partisan and have no opinion either way, however we feel questions should be asked of both sides.
So what do you think, Is the Liverpool Council ‘”dysfunctional”? Do they deserve to be suspended just 50 days shy of an election? Or should the people of Liverpool be given the chance to decide and elect their own council free from administrators that do not represent the people of Liverpool or their interests?
Let us know what you think in the comments below.
