[Greens-Media] Sell off of NSW driven by Costa’s lack of imagination

[John Kaye]

Sell off of NSW driven by Costa’s lack of imagination
 
Greens MP and NSW Treasury spokesperson John Kaye condemned the Iemma
Government’s privatisation strategy for providing improvements in the
state’s schools, hospitals and the rail network in today’s Budget. 
 
Dr Kaye said: “Increases in infrastructure spending are urgently needed
but the Iemma government is selling out future generations by doing it
on the cheap with private capital.
 
“Treasurer Michael Costa has been boasting about massive increases in
Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to deliver much needed transport,
education and health infrastructure. He is ideologically committed to a
risky privatisation strategy that simply does not work. 
 
“By handing over the planning, financing, ownership and operation of
essential infrastructure to the private sector, the Iemma government is
deserting its responsibilities. 
 
“As the debacles with the Cross City Tunnel, Lane Cove Tunnel and the
Port Macquarie Hospital show, PPPs have an appalling track record when
it comes to delivering economic or social outcomes for the NSW
community.  
 
“These ‘partnerships’ tend to be shrouded in secrecy. The NSW taxpayers
only find out they are left carrying the can after something goes
terribly wrong. 
 
“These projects rely on corporate investors extracting a profit,
inevitably gained at the expense of the NSW community. 
 
“PPPs drive cuts in the quality of service, weakening of environmental
controls, and reductions in the wages and conditions of workers. This is
not good public policy. 
 
“It appears that the Treasurer has neither the will, the vision or the
imagination to develop a public infrastructure strategy which will
deliver a benefit to the community in the long term. 
 
“Massive increases in public infrastructure spending are urgently
needed, but without public investment and ownership the community is
left to the whims of corporate boardrooms. 
 
“Essential public infrastructure should be held in trust for future
generations, not sold off for short-term political or financial gain,”
said Dr Kaye. 
 
For more information:John Kaye 0407 195 455 
 
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John Kaye
Greens member of the NSW Parliament
phone: (02) 9230 2668
fax: (02) 9230 2586
mobile: 0407 195 455
email: John.Kaye at parliament.nsw.gov.au
 
mail: Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000