The Local Government Act allows councils to undertake polls on specific questions, including at election times, and new amendments set out a process for de-amalgamation. A majority of residents voting to de-amalgamate would not be an automatic trigger but it would add to the pressure on the NSW government which forced the mergers to take place despite widespread opposition. Colin Hesse, Greens councilor for Marrickville, told Green Left he was pleased the motion got up, saying the forced amalgamations of Marrickville, Ashfield and Leichhardt Councils by the NSW government was “undemocratic”. “The continued refusal by the Labor councillors to support a referendum of residents on the amalgamation demonstrates just how distanced from the community the Labor machine is,” Hesse said.