[Greens-Media] Iemma*s Labor makeover: sell out workers, sell off public assets

[Kristian Bolwell]

MEDIA RELEASE 3 August 2005

Iemma's Labor makeover: sell out workers, sell off public assets

New Premier Morris Iemma has abandoned Labor principles by pushing to sell-off of the state's forestry industries and waste management services, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon said today.

"A cornerstone of what the Labor Party is all about has crumbled. Selling off public assets is far from the Labor Party its members joined to support."

Ms Rhiannon said private ownership of waste management services would open the way for escalating prices for waste disposal, while recycling rates would fall as government targets would no longer apply.

"If these fire sales take place, there could be huge job losses, particularly in regional areas where communities currently rely on employment opportunities in the state-owned Forests NSW for survival.

Ms Rhiannon called on the Premier to rule out a sale or even a lease deal over both the state's valuable softwood plantations so that regional communities could plan for the future with confidence, rather than being stuck with uncertainty.

Ms Rhiannon said private owners might exploit the plantation resource for a short-term profit, leaving local communities with no long-term prospects of the industry surviving.

"Once a plantation is sold off, there is nothing to stop private owners from bringing in their own contracted labour from outside the area.

"From Bathurst and Orange south to Tumut and Tumbarumba, almost 210,000 hectares of softwood plantations is affected, while a further 25,000 hectares in the state's north east could be sold off," Ms Rhiannon said.

Further Information: Kristian Bolwell: 92303551,  0411638320


Kristian Bolwell
Adviser to NSW 
Greens MLC 
Lee Rhiannon
tel: 02 9230 3551
fax: 02 9230 3550
www.lee.greens.org.au