Baird is bad enough.

Worse is the Wicked Witch, Gladys Berejeklian, NSW Treasurer.

She is not afraid to do the dirty work or to demonstrate disregard for due process and consultation.

One instance: The manner of closure of the Newcastle rail line, which contravened legislation. But it went ahead at warp speed over a Christmas break thus avoiding proper public debate and independent analysis alike. My personal opinion is that the ongoing difficulties in finding a reasonable proposal for the replacement, light rail from Hamilton, indicates that the true objective has nothing to do with public transport. Indeed, the light rail line appears to be destined to the "too hard basket", that marvelous excuse for inaction which is used by politicians of every stripe.

It is consistent with a desire to grab a corridor of very valuable land for subsequent sale to property developers. Has this deal already been agreed?

Is an In-Principal MOU type document filed in the Treasurer's top drawer?

Who is the lucky winner?

The current administration of NSW is in the hands of some very ruthless and agenda-driven people.

Shadow,

"Read the papers, this is not an old issue"
Not living in Sydney, most of what I know of this issue comes from reading the SMH. But I don't recall reading anything about most of the councils being technically bankrupt, so again I ask: where's the evidence?

Let's not forget to mention Mr. Baird insulting Palestinian orphans by asking them about their future, then proceeding to do big business with the criminals who robbed them of their future and made them orphans in the first place

Aidan,

From what I recall, you are indiscriminate in your ignorance, and while I would like to educate you, I have neither the time nor disposition to do research for you.

If you wish to challenge what I say, then do so. Read up on the issues and maybe you can pass as mildy informed.

Nice try, Shadow, but you're the one making the extraordinary claims and not supplying any evidence. Now it could be that, despite my unsuccessful search for evidence to back up your claim, that you're right. But I think it's far more likely that it's merely a gross exaggeration on your part.

And ITYF that I'm much less likely to be ignorant of any issue than a random person, but as an engineer, when I am ignorant of something Im far more likely to admit it, whereas some others would try to bluff their way through.

Aidan,

Given your post history of fanciful economics claims that have no basis in theory or history, you are hardly one to talk.

The whole reason that the councils are being amalgamated is due to financial and managerial incompetence. There is a backlog of infrastructure maintenance of over $7bn, planning backlogs of years, and far too high proportions of revenue going to running the councils, let alone those that are actually corrupt.

After the scandals in the newspapers this has come to a head.