Thursday, 13 October 2011
Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke MP, has congratulated Hills Mayor Cr Greg Burnett on putting forward options to give democracy back to the Hills community through a popularly elected mayor.
Mayor Burnett announced that a report will be prepared exploring the way mayors are elected in the area with a popularly elected mayor, where members of the community vote for the mayor, expected to be one of the options explored.
“The Liberal Party in the Hills council made a commitment to look at moving to a popularly elected mayor and it is great to see this important commitment being delivered. A popularly elected mayor will allow local residents and rate payers to choose the mayor directly for a four year term instead of a constant change every year,” Alex Hawke said.
“This is an important democratic step and I am looking forward to seeing how it develops”
Alex Hawke MP has spoken out very clearly in support of a popularly elected mayor in the past. Just last week Mr Hawke called for the Hills Shire Council to take a referendum to the 2012 elections on this issue and has even urged the state government to look at metropolitan council amalgamations as a priority.
“I have always supported a popularly elected mayor and Cr Greg Burnett and the Liberal council team has my full support in the pursuit of this process, Alex Hawke concluded.