Mr Donato introduced a bill into the NSW lower house on Thursday for plebiscites on council mergers.

It would allow merged councils to devolve back to previous boundaries if they wished.

VIDEO: Member for Orange Phil Donato speaks about the Shooters Party’s council plebiscite bill.

After introducing the bill, Mr Donato said Local Government Minister Gabrielle Upton started talking in order to waste time to prevent a vote. 

He said a motion to gag the minister was defeated with help from the Nationals.

“It’s a ploy by government to delay and deny democracy,” Mr Donato said.

Mr Donato said “gutless” National Party MPs were “too scared” to speak out.

“The National Party have once again showed that they will do whatever the Liberal Party wants them to do, even if it’s bad for their own electorates.”

Mr Donato said the issue of council mergers hadn’t been settled and the government’s delaying tactics could lead to amalgamations becoming an election issue.

“I don’t think people will lose interest, I think it’s going to drag out and it will be an issue at the local government elections and maybe even at the state government election in 2019,” he said.

“It’s a live issue and no doubt the Cootamundra byelection will be a referendum on this issue.”

Mr Donato said local government mergers had happened under the watch of Nationals including Troy Grant, Adrian Piccoli, Katrina Hodgkinson, Stephen Bromhead, Leslie Williams, Michael Johnsen and deputy premier John Barilaro.

Member for Dubbo Troy Grant issued a statement following Mr Donato’s comments.

“The Dubbo electorate communities were forgotten by the Labor government. It is safe to say, that is no longer the case,” the statement said.

“We are now a priority and we have a local government structure that will see us become a regional economic powerhouse, which is something that we can all be proud of and reap the benefits of.”