[Greens-Media] Power retail sell-off plan punishes households and environment

[John Kaye]

Power retail sell-off plan punishes households and environment
 
Media release: 29 August 2008
 
NSW Premier Morris Iemma's refusal to accept the will of the parliament and people of NSW is undermining the state's ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.
 
Dr Kaye said: "Public ownership of electricity retailers is just as important as the generators.
 
"In a time of rising wholesale energy prices, privately-owned retailers will treat households as cash cows.
 
"Privatisation will destroy important opportunities for demand management that can control increases in electricity bills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
 
"The Premier has treated the people of NSW and their parliament with complete contempt.
 
"He has allowed himself to yet again be bullied into an unpopular and undemocratic move by his Treasurer.
 
"NSW is in the grip of climate sceptic Michael Costa and his obsession with privatisation.
 
"At a time when reducing emissions is moving from being a personal commitment to becoming a national imperative, selling off the retailers will make it much harder to share the burden of climate change fairly.
 
"It is not surprising that the big business lobby has invested heavily in peddling privatisation.
 
"They are not just pushing the sell-off to help their mates in the banking industry skim off massive profits from the sale.
 
"They are making sure that when prices do rise, the costs will be born by households, not the big commercial and industrial consumers.
 
"NSW needs a Treasurer and a Premier who put the needs of the community and the environment ahead of the greed of big business," 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