Queensland Consolidated Acts Queensland Consolidated Acts(1) The change commission is responsible for assessing whether a proposed local government change is in the public interest.
(2) In doing so, the change commission must consider—
(a) whether the proposed local government change is consistent with a Local Government Act; and
(b) the views of the Minister about the proposed local government change; and
(c) any other matters prescribed under a regulation.
(3) The change commission may conduct its assessment in any way that it considers appropriate, including, for example, by—
(a) asking for submissions from any local government that would be affected by the proposed local government change; or
(b) holding a public hearing (in the way set out in chapter 7, part 1) to ask the public for its views about the proposed local government change.
(4) However, the Minister may direct the change commission in writing to conduct its assessment of the proposed local government change in a particular way.
(5) Despite subsection (3), the change commission must comply with the Minister's direction.
(6) The change commission must let the public know the results of its assessment and the reasons for the results, by publishing notice of the results—
(a) in a newspaper that is circulating generally in the local government area; and
(b) in the gazette; and
(c) on the electoral commission's website.
(7) The change commission must also give the results of its assessment to the Minister.
(8) The change commission may recommend that the Governor in Council implement the change commission's assessment.