NSW power sell-off would renew Snowy Hydro privatisation push

Commenting on a story on page 1 of today's Canberra Times ('Snowy power may go private'), Dr Kaye said: "Federal member for Eden-Monaro Mike Kelly has let the cat out of the bag.
 
"The Rudd government is carefully watching NSW Treasurer Michael Costa's push to sell off the state's retailers and generators.
 
"According to Mr Kelly, if Treasurer Costa is successful, the Commonwealth government will implement their secret plan to take over the Snowy and lease it out.
 
"It looks like a reincarnation of John Howard's privatisation plans that came to a sticky end in 2006 after massive public opposition.
 
"There is no practical difference between Kevin Rudd's long term lease and John Howard's sell-off. Both would see control of the water in the scheme pass out of public hands to large multinational corporations.
 
"The ante on the NSW sell-off has just been upped. The Iemma government's proposed sell-off is an environmental, social and economic disaster. It just got worse.
 
"The issue is no longer confined to the state's coal-fired power stations and retailers. It now includes Snowy.
 
"The state member for Eden-Monaro, Steve Whan, needs to get onto the phone to his federal colleague and reiterate the arguments he used in 2006 to oppose the sell off.
 
"No doubt Mr Whan will now be regretting his support of the Unsworth Inquiry recommendations to sell off the state's power industry.
 
"He will not be happy to see he has unwittingly become part of a renewed push to privatise Snowy.
 
"Mr Whan knows that this will be even more detested in his electorate than the already deeply unpopular power sell off," Dr Kaye said.
 
For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455