[Greens-Media] Costa should resign over power sell-off debacle

[John Kaye]

Costa should resign over power sell-off debacle
 
Media Release: 28 August 2008
 
NSW Treasurer Michael Costa has squandered critical time and resources on his push to privatise the state's generators and retailers. The Iemma government's focus should have been on transforming the electricity industry to a low emissions future, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.
 
Dr Kaye said: "If Michael Costa had any sense of responsibility, he would resign after his sell-off legislation fails to pass the NSW Upper House later today.
 
"With the Liberals now highly likely to vote against it, the Treasurer has failed to convince the Coalition, members of his own party or the people of NSW of the need to privatise an essential service to keep the lights on. 
 
"The Owen inquiry arguments have proved to be a dangerous distraction from the real challenges facing the state's energy supply.
 
"Climate sceptic Michael Costa should take the blame for the government's failure to address the urgent task of preparing the state to reduce the 57 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emitted by NSW's power stations each year.
 
"The Treasurer has driven the state into a perilous economic situation.
 
"The time wasted on the sell-off debate was time not spent on developing plans for an early transition to renewable energy and energy efficiency.
 
"NSW will pay a high price for squandering the last 12 months on an ideologically-driven privatisation push that has gone nowhere.
 
"Treasurer Costa has also driven his government into a political dead end.
 
"He exploited the inability of Premier Morris Iemma and most of the Labor caucus to withstand his hectoring. 
 
"He is accused of bullying Labor MPs by threatening to withhold crucial infrastructure funding from their electorates if they vote against his legislation. If this is true it amounts to holding the people of NSW to ransom.
 
"The Greens will be referring his behaviour to the NSW Legislative Council Privileges Committee," 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