If you needed a reason NOT to support any referendum giving local councils full governmental recognition, you cannot ignore this shocking news story! This link avoids the pay wall of The Australian newspaper and has more information than the summary below the link: http://www.news.com.au/top-stories/councils-snooping-on-phone-use/story-e6fr... http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/councils-snooping-on-phone-use... Local councils snooping on phone use by: Jared Owens From: The Australian February 18, 2013 12:00AM LOCAL councils are seizing data from residents' mobile phones without warrants to chase unregistered pets, illegal rubbish dumping and unauthorised advertising. Federal surveillance laws enable enforcement agencies -- such as police, corruption watchdogs and the Australian Taxation Office -- to seize telecommunications data to conduct criminal investigations, enforce fines or protect public revenue. But the laws are increasingly being used by other public bodies, such as local governments and Australia Post, which have collectively made more than 800 self-authorisations for personal data in the past three financial years.