[Greens-Media] NSW public should also be told Treasury's energy sell-off story

[John Kaye]

NSW public should also be told Treasury's energy sell-off story 
 
Media Release: 3 April 2008
 
The Greens are calling on the Iemma government to provide the public with a complete account of their plans to privatise the electricity industry.
 
Greens NSW MP John Kaye said: "In a desperate bid to win Opposition support for his electricity industry privatisation push, NSW Treasurer Michael Costa is providing an exclusive briefing for Liberal Leader Barry O'Farrell and his National party colleague Andrew Stoner from Treasury boss John Pierce. 
 
"Mr O'Farrell correctly identified the climate of secrecy that has surrounded the Iemma government's plans to sell the electricity retailers and lease the baseload generators.
 
"The solution is not a secret session with Mr Pierce but a full public account of what the government plans.
 
"The snow job has gone on for too long. 
 
"With the ALP state conference less than five week away, it is time that the Treasurer made public the details of this massive change of ownership.
 
"Rumours have been flying about share market floats, trade sales, initial public offerings, partial privatisations, reserved shares for power industry workers and sales to Chinese government-owned 'sovereign wealth fund' companies.
 
"There is still no clarity on how the government intends to handle the costs of carbon trading or protect workers whose jobs will be destroyed by the sell-off.
 
"Either Treasurer Costa has no idea of how to pull this off or he is deliberately hiding his plans from the public.
 
"With public opinion running firmly against the sell-off and the Iemma government sending a small fortune on advertising to promote it, the public has a right to know what will happen if the Treasurer gets his way.
 
"Mr Pierce should also be asked to make a public statement on what he has told the Opposition leaders," Dr Kaye said. 
 

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
web: www.johnkaye.org.au
 
mail: Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000