3. Conducting the Inquiry A proposal for amending local government district boundaries may be made by electors, local governments or the Minister. Clause 2(2) of Schedule 2.1 of the Act sets out the requirements for proposals for amalgamations and boundary amendments and reads as follows: Making a proposal (1) A proposal may be made to the Advisory Board by — (a) the Minister; (b) an affected local government; (c) 2 or more affected local governments, jointly; or (d) affected electors who — (i) are at least 250 in number; or (ii) are at least 10% of the total number of affected electors. (2) A proposal is to — (a) set out clearly the nature of the proposal, the reasons for making the proposal and the effects of the proposal on local governments; (b) be accompanied by a plan illustrating any proposed changes to the boundaries of a district; and (c) comply with any regulations about proposals. Provisions for dealing with proposals are set out in clause 3 of Schedule 2.1 of the Act and reads as follows: Dealing with proposals (1) The Advisory Board is to consider any proposal. (2) The Advisory Board may, in a written report to the Minister, recommend* that the Minister reject a proposal if, in the Board’s opinion — (a) the proposal is substantially similar in effect to a proposal on which the Board has made a recommendation to the Minister within the period of 2 years immediately before the proposal is made; (aa) where the proposal was made by affected electors under clause 2(1)(d), that the majority of those electors no longer support the proposal; or (b) the proposal is frivolous or otherwise not in the interests of good government. * Absolute majority required. (3) If, in the Advisory Board’s opinion, the proposal is — (a) one of a minor nature; and
2011 1,303 417 2012 1,301 430 2013 1,295 437 2014 1,284 424 2015 1,284 402 Source: ABS The Shire of Dalwallinu submission also discusses population decline in the Paynes Find locality, attributing that to economic stress and acquisition of lands by the Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPAW) and mining. The resident population of the area sought to be transferred is estimated at between 30 to 40 people. It is expected that this may decline further, but only marginally, as it is considered that this is at an almost irreducible minimum to maintain even the minimal services and economic activity of the region. A particular feature of the Shire of Dalwallinu, and noted as a point of difference by Paynes Find residents, was the number of Brethren Christian adherents, constituting just over 10% of the population (2011 Census). The two shires are quite different in terms of socio-economic disadvantage. (Table 8). Yalgoo could be said to be an area of disadvantage whereas Dalwallinu is not. No separate figure is available for Paynes Find. Table 8 Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage Shire of Dalwallinu 1,031 Paynes Find n.a. Shire of Yalgoo 914 Western Australia 1,000 Source: ABS 5.4 Economic Factors Mining, pastoral and tourism are the three main economic activities in the area. The Shire of Dalwallinu suggested that at the time of land transfer in 1963 economic activity within the Paynes Find area was pastoral, as distinct to the