Snowy Hydro management lining up in sell-off push

"A glossy brochure has been circulated to thousands of local residents featuring a three page 'Business Update' from the Mr Charlton, arguing that Snowy will be the last publicly owned generator in the South East of Australia and has to be privatised to remain 'forever strategically important'.
 
"He is exploiting the Iemma government's electricity sell-off in an attempt to talk up the market on privatisation of the organisation.
 
"He is trying to translate NSW Treasurer Michael Costa's propaganda into an argument for selling off the Snowy.
 
"Mr Charlton extraordinary behaviour does highlight the vulnerability of public ownership of the Snowy if the Iemma government gets its way with the state's electricity industry.
 
"Despite the Iemma government's claims that it is not so, if Macquarie Generation, Eraring and Delta are sold off, it will be much harder to stop the Victorian, NSW and Federal governments from privatising Snowy.
 
"Mr Charlton's behaviour is way outside what people should expect from the management of a publicly-owned corporation.
 
"He has a clear conflict of interest. He would be in the box seat to head a privatised Snowy with a good chance of a much bigger pay packet.
 
"The people of NSW rejected Snowy privatisation when it was last tried on in 2006 and nothing has changed since then. A Greens' private members bill that passed both houses of the NSW parliament helped stop the sell-off in 2006.
 
"The only difference this time will be if the Iemma government's electricity privatisation is successful. If that happens, Snowy Hydro will no doubt be the Treasurer's next target for the auctioneers block," Dr Kaye said.
 
For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455