[Greens-Media] Iemma still wrong on new baseload power

[John Kaye]

Iemma still wrong on new baseload power
 
Media release: 24 September 2010
 
Former Premier Morris Iemma continues to peddle misinformation about the energy needs of this state, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye. ('Lights out for Labor, Iemma warns on electricity', Daily Telegraph 24 September, p. 23, see http://bit.ly/dt100924)
 
Dr Kaye said: "The former Premier persists with his claims that the 'lights would go out' in NSW if new fossil fuel baseload power stations are not built.
 
"He was wrong in 2007 and he is still wrong.
 
"The latest Statement of Opportunities from the Australian Energy Market Operator shows there is abundant generation capacity in this state.
 
"Mr  Iemma is also deeply confused about the current price rises which have much more to do with paying for wires and poles than the cost of generation.
 
"He should read the IPART determination. Generation costs are adding only 1 percent to electricity prices over the next four years while transmission and distribution is responsible for a 31 percent rise.
 
"Morris Iemma and his Treasurer Michael Costa destroyed their government over an unnecessary and damaging scheme to privatise the retailers and generators, supposedly in order to lure private sector cash into building new baseload plant. 
 
"The appalling legacy of the Iemma years continue to haunt the NSW Labor government.
 
"Treasurer Eric Roozendaal is coming to grief with his version of the power sell-off that is running late and has major risk barriers.
 
"It is time for the NSW Labor party to rid themselves of the myths pedalled by the privatisation boosters and  abandon electricity privatisation before it does even more damage to their party and the state," 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