Premier Mike Baird and Local Government Minister Paul Toole have ignored the findings of a parliamentary inquiry into local government, as they push ahead with controversial council merger reforms.
The upper house inquiry into the financial viability of local government and the impact of forced mergers had made 17 recommendations, including the finding that the Fit For The Future process the Baird Government had relied on as the basis of its merger plans was flawed.
It demanded the Baird Government withdraw the statement that 71 per cent of councils in metropolitan Sydney were "unfit".
It also called for greater independence for the Boundaries Commission, which is currently deciding the fate of councils earmarked for mergers.
Labor MP Peter Primrose said: "A lot of people put a lot of effort into providing evidence to this inquiry. We actually expected the government may take the opportunity to respond."
Mr Primrose accused the Baird Government of instead "reiterating its previously stated mantra".
"They have treated the community with disdain," he said.
He said council mergers had become consumed by "aggravation, confusion and become a dog's breakfast".
The inquiry was chaired by Christian Democrat MP Paul Green.
Mr Primrose said it found the underlying problems facing local government finances needed to be addressed before boundaries were tinkered with.
"All the evidence we received was that size is not important. You need to look at all the other issues. But the government has just repeated the same mantra."
The committee had considered an alternative to forced amalgamations proposed by Hunters Hill, Ryde and Lane Cove Councils, based on joint regional authorities used in country NSW.
Mayor of Ryde Jerome Laxale said: "We took this process seriously and offered an alternative to amalgamations, which was endorsed by the parliamentary inquiry. This response shows how much contempt the government is showing to the community that they ignored the inquiry as well."
Mr Toole said in his response that the Hunters Hill, Ryde and Lane Cove proposal would show benefits of $500,000 over five years, compared to a government merger proposal that would give a financial benefit of $86 million over 20 years.
Mr Toole's response to the inquiry stated the government merger proposals showed financial benefits of up to $2 billion that could be invested in new infrastructure, improved services or keeping rates stable.
"No decision had been made on any merger proposal," it said.
