That the residents of cities, towns and villages can somehow avoid the horse trading between MPs, shifting ideologies or plain old cost cutting or shifting wrought by political parties.

It would be nice.

Unfortunately, when the existence of local government depends on the words and deeds of party politicians, it's only a dream.

If you pick up a copy of the Australian Constitution, only state and federal governments have any real constitutional power.

Local government is a nice convenience for state governments to do dirty work like roads, rates and rubbish.

In Griffith, and probably the electorate of Murray, we're starting to see what happens when local government becomes trapped in a battle between state politicians.

Sixty professional jobs walked out of Griffith last week and instead are set to end up in Tamworth.

Member for Murray Helen Dalton is on the mark when she talks about the decision being based on politics.

Not that the NSW Nationals would ever publicly admit to any decision being based on politics.

Which is what makes Griffith City Council's statement that it will do "all it can" to overturn the decision so impotent.

The city is caught between a state politician who took a political party's parliamentary seat, and a political party which is inclined to focus on its voters and supporters.

The electorate of Murray is so much more than just Griffith but that doesn't count for much when 60 jobs walk out the door.

This shows the folly of relying on the state government to always act in the interests of all its citizens, political parties and governments choose winners and losers.

Having an independent MP represent our region means we can see dollars arrive, but they can just as easily disappear.

Declan Rurenga, editor

drurenga@areanews.com.au