Qld: Protesters target Rudd over council mergers

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2007
Qld: Protesters target Rudd over council mergers

Hundreds of protesters have gathered at Noosa Beach .. on Queensland's Sunshine Coast
.. to oppose council amalgamations.

The protesters dumped cardboard cutouts of federal Labor leader KEVIN RUDD .. Premier
PETER BEATTIE and Local Government Minister ANDREW FRASER into wheelie bins on the beach.

They also waved placards and wore shirts bearing the theme "Save Noosa .. dump Labor".

Noosa's due to be merged with nearby Maroochy and Caloundra shires in March next year.

Friends of Noosa spokesman BOB ANSETT says a statewide campaign will call on Mr RUDD
to stop the mergers.

Mr ANSETT says they're extremely disappointed in local Sunshine Coast boy KEVIN RUDD
.. who's displayed weakness in not physically reining in Mr BEATTIE and his undemocratic
actions.

The Queensland government plans to cut the number of councils from 157 to 73.

AAP RTV ews/pjo/af/bart

KEYWORD: COUNCILS NOOSA (BRISBANE)

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