No NSW Local Council General Election This Year - Deferred To 17th March 2017!

NSW Government's policy review on Local Council Amalgamations does not affect Blacktown City Council and we are not amalgamating. Which is good that the NSW Government has not touched our local government area and that would be mainly due to our consistent population increase.

Check here for NSW Amalgamations for Councils

Looking at the brief amalgamations for Sydney Councils, it seems substantiated that I notice  both North Shore Councils  will be halved and the eastern suburbs will be taking from Woollahra, Waverley and Randwick Councils to merge as their population is some places 8/10- 9/10 smaller then our population in Blacktown.

We will see 43 Councils reduced to 25 councils in Sydney and regional councils from 109 to 87 Councils. Yes, there will be a cost-cutting initially once all the Councils are amalgamated. There will also be less strong Councillor representative from each Ward, should should mean each Councillor will have a larger responsibility of constituents to look after. This is where I think their wages should increase!

This is where we have to refresh our memory on what politicians get paid per voter. I did my own survey prior to last years state elections, variables would be different now, yet you can understand how politicians get paid (really not much). Although we complain they get paid a lot!

Click here for my survey on our paid politicians!

So that being that, the real news from this post is that the NSW Council General elections have been post-phoned until 17th March 2017.That means we are left this year with just a  Australian Federal General Election, later this year.

When And How Do We Connect To And Need Local Politicians?

Firstly, I will restate  that I am not and will not be in any way any  type of politician, no matter how many people would like myself to be one. I do have the  local knowledge, history and capacity to be one. Yet, I will not be swayed  emotionally or financially by any party or run as an independent.

A local politician is well educated, believe it or not. We, as local community members want to air our disappointment on decisions that have a negative affect personally or to the wider community for political decisions being made or to be made. That could when we take action  by relevant means, in a nice orderly fashion.

A politician entering politics understands there is the 'We' factor and the 'They' factor, seeking resolutions to all types of community changes, coping with the growing and ever changing community's future. The true politician may not believe  that they are not only there to become elected for the community and paid by the community, they are there to play a major part in looking after the  the present and planning for the future growing community, dealing with all stake holders.

We, as community members think that once a politician is elected, it is all easy for them from here. Not really, the elected member may make decisions that may not make the current community happy, as they may have to vote on party lines. So if the party is not
'happy', the politician votes against party lines,there is unpopularity. Most populations seeking future political leadership and support for re-election will vote on party lines and generally will not fall out on party line voting, in their term of office.

Subsequently politicians will understand  that whilst seeking improvements in community with new and upgrading community infrastructure and services, the respective governments budget must not be in overspend or in deficit. We cannot overspend what money we don't have, I don't expect politician to so the same in any government budgets.

So the relationship between a constituent and a politician is  remarkable when we think about it. The politician will need our vote to be elected and we will need their vote in government to make the correct community decisions, without being biased. That is when we need a politician!

Local politicians have to be approachable, good listeners and act towards the goodness of the general community. 


Click here to see if Australian Politicians are well remunerated

Are All Our Politicians Well Remunerted? Know What Your Politician May Receive As Income!

Here is something to think about! A lot of us like to whinge and complain about others income being too high. That is all politicians being overpaid.

For one, I do not want, to run as a Councillor for Local Government elections. Two I do not want, to run as a State Member for State Elections. Lastly, I do not want, to run as a Federal Member of Federal Government.  

Why, very simple: I do not want to and my enjoyment is doing what I am doing for the community: getting to talk to people, discuss with their friends and family, make it a subject to talk about, understand and learn what is happening or could happen to improve the community and for people to notify by e-mail improvements they require.

So to give you an example how our politicians fare with income here are some examples:
Mayor of Blacktown Estimated Income      $82,000 per annum

Click here for details 
Councillors Estimated Income                       29,960 per annum
Click here for details 
NSW Premier's Estimated Income               358,853 per annum
Private Member's Estimated Income            149,541 per annum
Click Here for Details
Prime Minister's Estimated Income             366,366 per annum
Federal Member Estimated income             140,910 per annum
Click Here for Details 

The Mayor of Blacktown City Council makes decisions for all the current 325,185 population - that means with his estimated income of  $82,000, that is costing each person $3.97* per person
as there are 15 Councillors in Blacktown City Council -that means current population divided by 15 is 21,679 - that means on an estimated income of $29,960, that is costing per person $0.74 person.


The Premier of New South Wales makes decisions for all the current 7,500,000 population  - that means with his estimated income of $358,853, that is costing each person $20.90 per person
State Member for Mount Druitt makes decisions for all the current 44,095 electors - that means  with his estimated income of $149,541, is costing electors $0.30* per elector**.


The Prime Minister of Australia makes decisions for all the current 23,674,130 population - that means with his estimated income of $366,366, that is costing each person $64.62 per person.
Federal Member for Chifley makes decisions for all current 94,991 electors - that means with his estimated income of $140,910, that is costing each person $0.68* per elector.

*Rounded up
**Unable to find population by State Seat

Click here for supported information from ABS

Click here for Chifley Federal Seat Results 2013

Click here for Mount Druitt State Election Results 2011


Click here for Blacktown City Population

So if you add up all the costs it costs us less than $100 per person or us to pay for politicians in Mount Druitt as rough estimates. I understand that allowances may not be included and that would be additional. Then those costs may rise over $100 per person per annum. Isn't this amazing! So people who say we can't afford politicians wages and there wages are too high, think first. We could look at doubling what we pay them and the end result could be more quality service and maybe less corruption for ones that go that way!

No. In my books all politicians are not well remunerated! What do you think?

A suggestion provided to myself yesterday for politicians and sales people: 
"We have 2 ears and one mouth, so we should listen to people twice as much as we speak to them!"

Another quote from a "Plumpton Resident" (great people we have):

"It would be good for a good politician to have a term of office for more than 6 years and it would be bad to have a bad politician to have a term of office for more than 6 years!

Request For Federal, State And Local Politicians To Get To And From Council Chambers and Parliamnent By Public Transport - Using Opal Cards

It seems like, before we preach to the unconverted commuter, we need to preach to unconverted local, State and Federal Politicians to travel to and from their workplace and home also using public transport and the Opal Card.

In my life I have seen  two Federal Members of Parliament use trains, personally: Mr Roger Price, Former Federal member for Chifley and Former Federal Member for Lindsay, Mr. David Bradbury.

I have also seen NSW State Members, Mr. Ray Williams and Mr. Bart Basset get of Sydney Trains at Penrith station, a few years ago.


Once Local, State and Federal Members are traveling to their destinations, they will then have to understand how commuters have to cope day to day in catching buses, trains, taxis and possibly as a cyclist. If politicians don't travel using public transport, who will?

I also place same task to Blacktown City Council Transport officers and NSW for Transport to do the same.

Maybe politicians will get the community to talk to them and find out ways they can further benefit the community. I find by talking to people as a non-politician there is that comfort zone in talking to me.

I don't know if Roger Price remembers, but long before I was involved as  public transport advocate, I actually approached him and started to make conversation. It wasn't political it great listening to him wanting to visit former Telecom employees and meeting up with them in Sydney. I was touched that an important local identity and politician, spoke to myself as a stranger! Nice man!

So who will be the first politician to do this? Provide a photograph/video their trip, who they speak too, so we can show the world.