The NSW Government has hit back at claims that the sale of the state’s poles and wires could lead to more problems than it solves for the Hunter.
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Opposition leader John Robertson led a protest outside the Ausgrid sub-station in Maitland on Wednesday to oppose the government’s plan to sell 49 per cent of its electricity infrastructure to the private sector to raise $20 billion to put into other infrastructure.
About 15 people braved the rain to protest against the electricity privatisation, after the Productivity Commission released a report this week that encouraged the government to continue to privatise its assets.
“Water and electricity are essential services for families and for businesses,” Mr Robertson said when visiting the Mercury office afterwards.
“We should not be privatising essential services. Electricity ought to be made available, it should be reliable and it should be affordable. It’s the same with water.”
He said he was not concerned about the Productivity Commission’s recommendation.
“I’ve got to make sure the concerns of people and the effects privatisation has on them are addressed,” he said.
“I’m not worried about what the Productivity Commission has to say on this issue.”
NSW Treasurer Andrew Constance said Mr Robertson presided over a 60 per cent increase to the state’s electricity prices as Labor’s Energy Minister.
Mr Constance said the Opposition leader was on a “travelling road show” to try and tarnish the government’s image.
“The support of our strategy by the Productivity Commission speaks volumes,” he said.
“It shows we’re headed in the right direction, and exposes John Robertson’s scare campaign for what it is.
“The long-term lease of the electricity network businesses is expected to unlock $20 billion in infrastructure funding, including $6 billion for regional NSW.”
Mr Robertson said the government would lose the ability to influence power prices if the privatisation was successful.
“This is not going to solve the problems of this state, it’s going to create more problems for everybody,” he said.
“It’s going to particularly impact the Hunter. You’re going to see prices rise and reliability standards are going to decline.”
