Privatisation plebiscite needed to stop electricity sell off

Dr Kaye said: “Selling the electricity industry would be irreversible. Once sold, re-establishing public control over the industry would be almost impossible.

“Having gone to successive elections with a promise to keep the industry in public hands, they cannot claim any mandate for a sale or 99 year lease.

“Changing the ownership of the electricity industry will have huge impacts on the environment, prices and employment.

“Electricity generation is responsible for 37% of this state’s greenhouse gas emissions. Affordable supply is central to the quality of life of almost every household.  NSW public utilities employ 24 thousand people.

“Generators and retailers are key employers in rural and regional NSW and throughout the state provide important training and industry development opportunities.

“Handing all of this over to corporate boardrooms, financial markets and investment bankers spells disaster for the future of this state.

“Premier Iemma and his Treasurer Michael Costa are forcing NSW into a dangerous experiment with privatisation.

“They are selling off the environmental, social and economic future of the state.

“The Premier and the Treasurer must know how deeply unpopular privatisation is throughout the state. If they don’t now, they will after their next party caucus meeting, given the courageous public comments by some leading Labor MPs.

“It is time to let the people of this state have a say in their own future.

“The Greens are convinced that common sense would prevail in a plebiscite. The smooth words of the merchant bankers would soon be exposed by the harsh light of international experience,” Dr Kaye said.