Hawke Welcome Burnett's Call For Popularly Elected Mayor

 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.