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Local Government News Roundup · Chris Eddy

"Game of chicken", concerning trend, and 4 day week first - ft. Jonathon Marsden #544

·47 min·1 clip
NSW councils reported 17 operating losses and 19 with less than three months’ cash.
The episode opens with a sponsor note from Symphony 3 and quickly settles into its usual news rhythm. It treats the day as a substantial local government bulletin rather than a single-feature show. Councils are described as being in a game of chicken with the state government. Wyndham raises concerns about a spate of online racism, while New South Wales councils are flagged for worrying financial trends. A council chamber is closed after asbestos is discovered. Cairns then becomes a governance story, with secret recordings creating fresh pressure and public scrutiny. The roundup moves on without lingering too long on any one item. Launceston makes history with plans for a four-day working week. That reform is framed as an Australian first and a practical test of how council work can be reorganised. Perth’s Lord Mayor responds to the leaking of a damning internal report. The report points to workplace dysfunction, and the leak is treated as a serious accountability issue. Illegal dumping in Swanview also gets attention. Two people are convicted and fined for dumping hazardous waste in a residential street, with penalties and costs attached. Greater Geraldton extends its e-scooter rental contract with Beam Mobility. The extension comes with tighter safety rules after a fatal accident and community concern. Kalgoorlie-Boulder then moves to appoint an acting CEO, with an external candidate known for now as Candidate A. The show also touches South Australian council news, including Charles Sturt hosting the Santos Tour Down Under at Henley Square for the first time. An estimated 25,000 people attend, and planning is set to recommence after the cycling event highlights the need for better infrastructure. Jonathan Marsden joins for a chat as part of the programme’s interview segment. He brings the perspective of a former mayor and two-term councillor at Hobsons Bay. The show keeps the tone formal, brisk, and highly procedural throughout.

As heard by us

A brisk civic bulletin that makes council business feel immediate and worth following.

This episode is strongest when it keeps moving through the council business: the stoush with the state government, finance concerns in New South Wales, the asbestos-related chamber closure, the Cairns governance crisis, and Launceston's four-day working week all land as real…

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Why you'd press play

You want a packed local-government rundown: state-government clashes, workplace dysfunction, and an Australian-first four-day-week milestone.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
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