I note that Margo Kingston also seems to have also grasped what is happening. See "Peter Beattie bent on destruction of Rudd's chances" at http://webdiary.com.au/cms/?q=node/1981. I attempt to post the following, but have, so far, experienced no luck getting anything posted onto that site. (I would have to assume that it is a technical problem rather than intentional censorship).

As 'daggett' has pointed out on Online Opinion, those who have read Mark Latham's diaries will see history repeating itself. Last time it was the NSW, Victorian and Tasmanian State Governments which largely destroyed Federal Labor's chances. This time it will be Peter Beattie's Labor Government.

The astonishing hegemonic brinksmanship of Beattie and local Government minister Andrew Fraser, when he is clearly opposed by Queensland public opinion as well as by the people in the areas of the councils to be forcibly amalgamated, has to be seen to be believed. They are now threatening to instantly dismiss any local council which attempts to hold a referendum on these amalgamations.

Frankly, I believe the whole supposed 'confrontation' between Howard and Beattie is a staged performance by both of them in order to ensure that both their respective governments survive, similar to Carr's strategy that daggett described above.

I think those of us who understand what is going on need to raise our voices as loudly as possible and condemn unreservedly Peter Beattie and his whole government for what they are now doing.

This should be done for the sake of the communities who stand to have their autonomy taken away from them, but for the sake of ordinary working Australians who desperately need to have Howard removed from office

Dagget if I know what's going on I will raise my voice but I don't know what's going on.... can you explain better? lol

Interesting to follow this at this site.
I find Margo Kingston's Web Diary can be temperamental to access, also. Apparently might to be with her site being set up by Fairfax, who later likely kneecapped her for dissent. But it a better than average blog and worth an effort as to access. It's had the wit to ask similar questions to this site, after all.
The flavour is slightly different elsewhere, as some feel the "reforms" have no sinister motives or likely impact. However, if one thing has caused problems in the ALP for decades now, it is the clash between "development" on one hand and heritage, sustainabilty and environment on the other. The dichotomy as oppositional has never been resolved back into something managable, largely because the development at any costs lobby don't want that.
Since the mid-nineties in particular, when the development side won out and arguably took no prisoners, the Tasmania example remains the most spectacular example of what has followed.
But it is not the only example and neither major political formation has the slightest reason to applaud itself.
There is little discernible difference in mentality or objectives between Coalition and Labor policy on the same issues, as illustrated by the liberals and labor conspiring to throw out the regulating mechanism offered by the Greens in the late nineties in Tasmania. Open slather on old growth forests for a quick buck for the lab/lib claque that now had control of the resource was declared, lest science discover yet more reasons for conserving the environment or using it more constructively for the economy and the future.
Tasmania of course is the example, but variations are used almost universally; hence the suspicions as to Beatties' policy.
Tasmania and elsewhere have been called "development", but often have just been lazy, greedy vandalism characterised by lack of imagination and effort; a caricature used as an alibi for avoiding just that properly thought out worthwhile development that could actually add to the sum total of civilization.

Hi Angel84,

I thought I had explained things fairly well.

(But, then again, perhaps I may not be the best person to judge.)

I have tried to post some material that may also be helpful at http://candobetter.org/NoForcedAmalgamations

Other useful sites are: http://www.localdemocracy.com.au, http://www.keepnoosaspecial.com.au/

Also, check out article by Margo Kingston referred to by cacofonix above at: http://webdiary.com.au/cms/?q=node/1981

Will get back to you.

There's more here daggett:

http://www.noamalgamation.stanthorpe.net/

The email option includes an auto list, so you can email your concerns to every State and Federal MP. There's also a section there which shows how you can contact the Qld Governor General, who theoretically has the power to halt legislation, though in practice it's unlikely.

Last night was the latest parliament has ever stayed. The legislation to sack councils was passed at 4am. Quite ironic, that democracy was willing to go above and beyond - to deny people a vote.

As for the $10 million, upper limit cost - I can't help but feel somewhat sceptical that this is beattie's reasoning. It's federal funds, and far more than that is spent on things like ad campaigns...

Wouldn't it be ironic if Beattie, after all this time in office, really did something worthwhile, & actually succeeded?

Like all mean, & nasty people, Beattie has a long memory, & he was severely kicked around by Rudd, as part of the Goss mob. His chance to get his own back? And he gets to kick the councils, who resisted giving their water, paid for by their residents, to Brisbane, to partly cover up another of his failings.

I wonder if any of our school kids have enough maths, to add up all of them.