What Australian papers are saying today, Jan 12, 2001

AAP General News (Australia)
01-12-2001
What Australian papers are saying today, Jan 12, 2001

SYDNEY, Jan 12 AAP - Diminished services and heavy debts carried by many smaller local
councils provide "a sound argument for a rapid program of council amalgamation", says
the Daily Telegraph today.

"Forty five per cent of the 160 councils that submitted returns recorded losses last
financial year with debts totally $1.2 billion," it says.

The newspaper calls on Local Government Minister Harry Woods to "advocate more vigorously
amalgamation" while at the same time reassessing the role of councils, the level of service
provided to …