‘Slut-shaming’ investigation launched into University of college News,Page11 real Exclusive The report from impact of Matt Wade the Budget Pages 4-5 Election 2016

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Local government Cabinet to decide this week Publicity blues Flanked by his PR queen wife Roxy Jacenko, Sydney investment banker Oliver Curtis cut a tense figure as he appeared in court for the first day of his criminal Baird plans to trial for insider trading. News,Page9 rush through council mergers

Jacob Saulwick, the state’s local government sector. Melanie Kembrey Likely partners But legal challenges and a number of last-minute merger proposals New councils are to be created Ǡ Bankstown/Canterbury mean the situation across the state across Sydney and NSW as early Ǡ Parts of Auburn City/Holroyd is unlikely to be settled soon. as this week if Premier Mike City/Parramatta City The Premier announced plans to Baird’s government signs off on Ǡ Parts of Parramatta City/ overhaul the councils in December merger proposals on Thursday. Auburn City/The Hills Shire/ last year after asking councils to The creation of up to 20 larger Holroyd/Hornsby Shire prove their ‘‘fitness’’ for the future, councils across the state is being Ǡ Manly/Warringah/Pittwater with 35 merger proposals. accelerated, in part to resolve what Ǡ Kogarah/Hurstville The Local Government Bound- could emerge as a political sore for Ǡ Ashfield/Leichhardt/ aries Commission was reinstated the Coalition ahead of the July 2 Marrickville to assess reports, prepared by federal election. Ǡ Burwood/Canada Bay/ government-appointed delegates, But councils that have chal- Strathfield on each of the merger proposals. lenged their proposed merger in Ǡ Ku-ring-gai/Hornsby court will be spared from the amal- Ǡ /Deniliquin gamation process, pending the out- Ǡ Bombala/Cooma-Monaro Editorial come of those court battles. Shire/ > With a poor sell, And Mr Baird has also scrapped Ǡ / Shire Baird risks merger a number of previously announced Ǡ Dubbo City/Wellington benefits council merger proposals. Ǡ Gosford City/ Page 14 Radio advertisements were in- Ǡ Tumbarumba/ advertently booked on Wednesday Ǡ Wollongong/Shellharbour spruiking the new councils. The But the process, which has trig- councils could be created rapidly, Holding out gered heated dissent in many com- following a recommendation from munities, has been complicated. Local Government Minister Paul Ǡ Mosman An additional 13 merger propos- Toole and a proclamation by NSW Ǡ Woollahra als, largely initiated by councils un- Governor David Hurley. Ǡ Hunters Hill der section 218E of the Local Gov- ‘‘The NSW government has cre- Ǡ Oberon ernment Act, were also considered ated new, stronger local councils to Ǡ Walcha by the commission. provide better local services and Ǡ Cabonne The commission, chaired by for- Photo: Jessica Hromas infrastructure,’’ the advertise- mer NSW auditor-general Bob ments on Wednesday say. Sendt, assessed the proposals New Sydney councils that could day reported that Mr Baird had against the requirements of the act be created this week include a com- backflipped on the creation of a and handed its final comments to bined Bankstown and Canterbury number of councils. These in- the government on Tuesday. Compo panel under fire council, an expanded Parramatta cluded a merger between Kiama Last-minute proposals for an ex- council, a merged Auburn and Hol- and Shoalhaven, Hills Shire and panded Botany Bay Council and The scandal-ridden 7-Eleven chain posed panel as ‘‘bogus’’ and a ‘‘tri- royd council, a Ku-ring-gai and Hawkesbury council, and Tam- mergers between Kogarah, Rock- has dumped its inde- umph’’ for dodgy fran- Hornsby council, and two new inner worth and Walcha councils. dale and Hurstville, and Port Ste- pendent compensation chisees. ‘‘I am appalled at the west councils: Ashfield, Leichhardt Cabinet is set to consider the phens and Dungog have not yet panel after it refused to situation and alarmed at the and Marrickville, and Burwood, merger plans on Thursday. The been considered by the commis- accept terms that would likely poor outcome for un- Canada Bay and Strathfield. plans will then be put to a meeting sion and are still open for public ‘‘emasculate’’ it and also derpaid workers,’’ Professor Other councils likely to be cre- of the Coalition party room. comment until June. threaten workers. Allan Fels said. ‘‘This is no longer ated across the state include a Gos- If the new councils are created A spokesman for Mr Toole told Fels, who headed the an independent process. It is ford and Wyong council, a Wollon- soon, it could provide some resolu- Fairfax Media earlier this week panel and is a former being done by self- gong and Shellharbour council, and tion to what has been a confusing that the government’s decision on chairman of the Australi- interested people with the a Dubbo and . and politically fraught process for council mergers was ‘‘expected to an Competition and Consumer Com- aim of minimising the payout.’’ The Nine Network on Wednes- Mr Baird and Mr Toole, as well as Continued Page 2 mission, described the new pro- Ǡ News —Page3 1HERSA1 A001