[Greens-Media] Iemma deceived unions and voters on electricity sell-off

[John Kaye]

Iemma deceived unions and voters on electricity sell-off
 
Media Release: 30 April 2008
 
The Iemma government cannot hide their lack of mandate to privatise the electricity industry behind technicalities and clever word smithing, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.
 
Dr Kaye said: "Emails cited in today's Daily Telegraph show that in the lead up to the last election Premier Morris Iemma not only promised the unions to maintain public ownership. He also deliberately failed to disclose his government's intentions to the voting public.
 
"Ever since they finally came clean late last year, the Premier and his Treasurer Michael Costa have resorted to weasel words to suggest that their scheme does not amount to privatisation.
 
"Yet the facts are clear. Selling off the retailers and leasing the generators for more than 50 years is clearly privatisation.
 
"A long term lease that last more than half a century is in effect a transfer of ownership. To claim otherwise is to ignore international accounting standards and common sense.
 
"While the Iemma government plans to leave the wires and poles of the distribution network in public hands for the time being, they want to sell off the three retailers that provide electricity to 93% of NSW consumers.
 
"At the time of the election the Premier unequivocally stated that privatisation of the state government owned energy companies was not on their agenda.
 
"Since March 2007 privatisation has dominated their agenda.
 
"The ALP State conference this weekend is almost certainly going to reject Premier Iemma and Treasurer Costa's scheme and hold them to their election promises.
 
"If the government's leaders chose to ignore their own party, then it will be up to the parliament to enforce the decision of state conference.
 
"This is shaping up to be Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell's greatest test," 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