[Greens-Media] Greens move for Senate inquiry on Snowy Hydro sale

[Bennett, Ebony (Sen B. Brown)]

Wednesday, 31 May 2006

Greens move for Senate inquiry on Snowy Hydro sale

The Greens will move for a Senate inquiry into the privatisation of
Snowy Hydro when the government introduces its bill to sell the icon
next month.

"The motions in March, which the government has now acknowledged failed
to meet legal requirements for the sale, were aimed to stymie a public
debate," Greens Leader Bob Brown said in Melbourne today.

"Now the government realises its mistake and is rushing a bill into
Parliament in June. I will move for a Senate inquiry. For the first time
this will enable public input into the privatisation," Senator Brown
said.

"It will also offer the Beazley Opposition a path towards reversing its
mistaken decision to support the privatisation of Snowy Hydro.

"Along with Labor, the bill gives the Nationals and Liberal Senator Bill
Heffernan the opportunity to block the privatisation of the
Commonwealth's 13% shareholding and, potentially, a review of the sale
in total," Senator Brown said.

Further information: Ebony Bennett 0409 164 603


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Ebony Bennett
Media Adviser
Office of Greens Senator Bob Brown
Mobile: 0409 164 603
Ph: (02) 6277 3170
Fax: (02) 6277 3185
ebony.bennett at aph.gov.au