Cootamundra Gundagai Regional Council mayor Ab McAllister is supporting a NSW Labor call for a plebiscite to be held on forced council mergers.
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In what could be seen by some as a shout into a cavern with another state election three years away, Labor Shadow Minister for Local Government Greg Warren this week promised that Labor will give communities across NSW the option of holding a plebiscite on the forced mergers inflicted on their local councils by the Liberals and Nationals.
"Labor will continue to oppose any more forced council mergers or demergers," Mr Warren said on Wednesday.
Supporting the move Cr McAllister said a plebiscite should have happened before the forced mergers.
"It should've been done by the present government before any previous merger," Cr McAllister said.
"We had community clubs packed with people not wanting (the mergers) but they didn't listen.
"In a democratic world the people should have had a say in the first place," Cr McAllister added.
Mayor of Hilltops council, which is the the result of the mergers of Boorowa, Young and Harden councils, Brian Ingram says he would align his views with the majority of the community if a plebiscite was ever held.
"Like all big issues, there are going to be people for and against each possible outcome".
"As Mayor, I would support the decision of the majority of the community," he added.
Mr Warren said this week Labor will continue to oppose any more forced council mergers or demergers.
"The Liberal and National Government's support for forced council mergers has angered communities across NSW who were forced to merge, including Cootamundra and Gundagai, Tumbarumba and Tumut, Gloucester Shire, Great Lakes and Taree, and Boorowa, Harden and Young," he said.
r Warren said that the return of genuine democracy to local communities was long overdue.
"Unlike the NSW Liberals and Nationals, NSW Labor do not believe in forcing councils into undemocratic shotgun marriages," Mr Warren said.
"Communities across NSW are still furious that the Liberals and Nationals implemented forced council mergers without giving them a vote."
"I have spoken to residents and councilors in several of the affected local government areas and to say they are disappointed and disillusioned with this Liberal-National state Government would be a gross understatement."
"Let's make it crystal clear - NSW Labor does not stand for forced mergers or demergers." "If a local community has a plebiscite and votes to de-merge then a Labor Government will support that decision." "Unlike the Liberals and Nationals, Labor believes in local democracy and actually consults and listens to communities."
