I WAS one of those who testified at the parliamentary inquiry into waste management on private lands (Bay Post, Friday September 5). We went up against about 32 councils and related bodies, who were asking for the power to enter homes and backyards (without the need for warrants or authorisation) through the Protection of the Environment Operations Act - the same laws council used against a Bingi couple.
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Placing these laws within the Local Government Act would have allowed council rangers to redefine normal possessions as “illegal waste”.
We showed damning evidence to the inquiry and the committee expressed deep shock at the evidence against Eurobodalla Shire Council.
The committee also stated that we should not underestimate the impact this evidence has had on the inquiry, and will have on the outcome.
This was apparently true, as the inquiry subsequently refused the requests of all these councils and government bodies, and basically went with our recommendation to stop industrial strength laws being used against mere home owners.
Minister Andrew Constance’s promise of an “open and public” investigation, with his personal assurance that all evidence would be made public, was also not honoured.
All submissions covering private cases publicly suppressed in full, including our personal testimony to Parliament at the inquiry. The inquiry was also not tasked with investigating specific cases like these, or bringing justice to them. So this was not what was promised.
Consequently, the council has now forced the Bingi couple into bankruptcy.
Damien Rogers
Moruya
