[Greens-Media] Port sale will bring long term pain to Newcastle

[John Kaye]

Port sale will bring long term pain to Newcastle

Media release: 26 June 2013

The O’Farrell government has rammed legislation through the NSW parliament
to transfer the Port of Newcastle to the private sector in a move that will
deprive the state of a valuable income stream and lock the Hunter community
into a dirty coal export future, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.

Dr Kaye said: "Selling a long term lease on the Hunter's lifeline to the
global economy will deliver a one-off hit of cash for the O'Farrell
government but it will leave the region with a port that serves private
profit. It will cut off access to a long term income stream.

"Losing control of the port was not needed to meet the challenges that face
Newcastle. The O'Farrell government could have borrowed against the income
stream to find the capital to inject into the city's central business
district.

"Instead Treasurer Mike Baird chose the quick hit strategy that will put
the future of the port in the hands of large corporations.

"The private lease owners will have no interest in diversifying the port to
increase opportunities of high tech exports and reduce the terrible health
toll of coal exports through Newcastle.

"The port leaseholder will not care about the future of the Hunter's
economy. The driving force in all investment decisions will be profit. That
means a future for Newcastle based on dirty and dangerous goods.

"The future for high tech manufacturing in the Hunter and the jobs it would
create just got as lot tougher.

"Premier Barry O'Farrell will be able to don a hard hat and announce lots
of new projects for Newcastle in the lead up to the next state election but
he will leave the city tied to a future of coal and dangerous chemicals.

"While the Premier hides behind economic arguments, this is the worst kind
of short-term pork-barrel politics.

"The people of NSW will have to wait and see what deal has been cut with
the Shooters and Fishers and Christian Democrats to secure the passage of
the privatisation legislation through the Upper House.

"Cutting the rail line at Wickham will increase private vehicle use and
undermine the role of Newcastle as the Hunter's social and economic hub.

"Even if the promise of a light rail replacement from Wickham eventuates,
it will be nothing but shuttle services.

"A fragmented rail system will mean passengers from stations beyond Wickham
will face double the unreliability, double the delay and in some cases
double the expense.

"The O’Farrell government has made a mockery of their commitment to
transparency by ramming legislation to privatise the Port of Newcastle
through the parliament without to any community consultation.

"A once in the life time opportunity for Newcastle to become the renewable
energy export hub of NSW will be undermined once the port is flogged off to
the highest bidder,” Dr Kaye said.

For more information:    John Kaye 0407 195 455


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John Kaye
Greens NSW MP
phone: 0407 195 455
web: www.john.nsw.greens.org.au
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