Dear Editor, your report suggesting Premier Minns’ decision to give Lismore Council $5 million to subsidise the city garbage service is a rare “win-win” for all concerned is a little hard to swallow.

Certainly, it is a happy Christmas story for the workers, who get to keep their jobs for the foreseeable future and the conditions that come with working in the local government sector. This includes generous pay and leave entitlements that cannot be matched in the private sector or even in other government essential services jobs. 

It is also a tremendous win for Janelle Saffin MP, who, like every ALP member, is beholden to the unions and has delivered for her comrades. 

Arguably, it is less of a win for the Premier Chris Minns, who, despite his “new Labor” image, has unwittingly unmasked his true self. Like any old Labor premier from the past, Mr Minns is apparently willing to ignore principles of good governance if it suits the union bosses.

This is not a good deal for NSW taxpayers. Spending $5 million propping up Lismore’s inefficient garbage collection service could hardly be seen as wise when so many are under pressure and essential services such as police, ambulances and hospitals are crying out for more.

It is most certainly not a win either for Lismore ratepayers. Councillors made the painful decision to move to a more efficient collection system (as so many other local councils have done). Now they will have to go through it all again before too long when the Minns garbage trucks start wearing out.

It is worth noting that Ballina Shire Council, faced with the same issue of aging garbage trucks, also made the difficult decision to privatise around the same time as Lismore, only it happened without the orchestrated full-on union campaign. The decision has now been implemented and a private operator has found major efficiencies sharing trucks and teams across both Ballina and Byron LGAs. While conservatives attack the Greens for being economically illiterate, even the Greens-dominated Byron Council understood that it doesn’t make sense for ratepayers to be in the business of garbage collection anymore. 

In Ballina, those garbage collectors seeking to stay with council were found other positions; possibly more meaningful jobs with a better future and career path. Ballina Council expects the move to a more efficient private operator will save ratepayers at least $1m over coming years and early numbers suggest the savings will be more.  

As a long-suffering Lismore business owner and ratepayer, I feel let down. That a leader like Mayor Kreig and his team, who know and respect, seem to have put the best interests of a small number of trade union members and the Labor Party ahead of what is so clearly best for the local community as a whole. It is what the business community would have expected from the previous long run of Labor-led Lismore councils that made some terrible financial and management decisions. No wonder Lismore rates are so much higher than those in Ballina Shire. 

I suggest a big photo of Janelle, Chris and Steve together on the side of every new garbage truck to keep reminding locals of their fortunate deal.

Rod Bruem, former Ballina Shire and Rous Councillor. Ballina