Fury at plan to link rural services to privatisation
Lisa Carty NSW Political Editor, Sun Herald
June 8, 2008
CLAIMS of political blackmail and double-crossing now pose the most serious threat to the State Government's controversial power privatisation plan.
It is understood five lower house MPs from rural and regional areas have been affronted by what some believe is the Government's attempt to link the privatisation to spending in country NSW.
They believe Premier Morris Iemma committed a major breach of faith when the state budget failed to contain a response to the recommendations of the Rural and Regional Taskforce, which was formed in June last year.
The taskforce was headed by former Premier's Department director-general Col Gellatly and its members were independent Northern Tablelands MP Richard Torbay and Labor's Monaro MP Steve Whan.
Mr Torbay is understood to be furious at the snub. What is said to have outraged him further is a Government budget release which referred to the taskforce, and then said: "The Government will be making announcements about enhanced infrastructure investment in rural and regional NSW in the context of utilising proceeds from its electricity reforms".
"This was never tied to privatisation and to link the two now smacks of blackmail," an insider said.
Mr Torbay, a vociferous opponent of privatisation, now seems determined to do all he can to derail the plan. Yesterday he told The Sun-Herald he was bitterly disappointed the budget did not address the taskforce's recommendations on infrastructure, telecommunications, broadband, the authority of local government, and transport.
"The taskforce was designed to deliver good policy to the people of rural and regional NSW and the fact that was not considered in the budget is a major disappointment," Mr Torbay said.
"Most people in rural and regional NSW do not support the privatisation. They do not like it."
A spokesman for Mr Iemma said the Government took its obligations to deliver better services and infrastructure to rural and regional areas seriously.Source: The Sun-Herald
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- Dear Fellow Bloggers, For some time I have thought about starting a left of centre news and commentary service and I have tried to do this by using email. But as some good, but email overloaded friends have suggested, a better way to go may be by blogging. So here it is! Jenny's Red News. My primary interests are left of centre politics and the very important question of how can we get left of centre parties, groups and grouplets in Australia working together more co-operatively. The right of centre predominates politics in this country at the present time, and they are on the march. We on the left of centre need to work together more co-operatively and constructively to put the left of centre agenda out there, for the perusal and consumption of the Australian people. Particular topics that will be reported on and on which comments are welcome are: Industrial relations - Opposition to Workchoices Refugee and Asylum Seekers Human Rights Civil Liberties Opposition to the Welfare to Work Changes Health System Reform Aboriginal Health and Reconciliation Jenny Haines posted by JENNY'S RED NEWS at 12:50 AM 0 comments