Tuesday, February 14, 2006

DISGUST AT SNOWY SALE

The State Government's decision to sell its share of Snowy Hydro is another broken promise by Premier Steve Bracks and puts at risk promised environmental flows in both the Snowy and Murray Rivers, according to a Nationals MP.

The Nationals Spokesman for Natural Resources and Gippsland Province MLC Peter Hall said he was flabbergasted that the State Government was escaping any criticism for its about face on privatization of water assets.

"Premier Bracks solemnly promised his Government would never privatize water assets and recently criticized the NSW Government for contemplating a sale of its share of the Snowy Hydro Scheme. Now in an election year they seem very anxious to grab a bonus of $600-$700 million to splash on a pork-barreling exercise."

Mr Hall said the Government's environmental credentials had been well and truly blown out of the water.

"Once the Snowy Hydro scheme is sold the Government will lose any leverage it had to ensure promised levels of environmental flows are delivered. Further, promises given to irrigators will be put at risk".

Mr Hall said it simply did not make sense for the Government to pull out of Australia's largest non-fossil fuel powered generator.

"As more focus is placed on climate change, renewable energy assets like the Snowy Hydro Scheme will become even more valuable. Government's should be investing in renewable energy projects not selling them", Mr Hall said.

Mr Hall claimed the promise to spend the proceeds of privatization on new schools was simply a manoeuvre to deflect criticism of the sale.

"It simply means the Government will avoid funding new school projects from the normal budget allocations. How can the Government guarantee this is new spending above and beyond that they would normally spend on new or refurbished schools?"

Mr Hall claimed as further evidence that this will not result in new Government spending was the fact that only a few weeks ago the Government was suggesting new schools could be built under a public private project model that would see the Government take out a long term lease on facilities owned and built by the private sector.

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"It seems the Government takes a new position every time there is a political need to do so", said Mr Hall.

Mr Hall said he was also amazed at Gippsland East MP Craig Ingram's "meek acceptance of the deal".

"Before Christmas Mr Ingram was all fire and brimstone about the privatization of Snowy Hydro but now his Melbourne Labor mates have sold him down the river he is as meek as a mouse," Mr Hall said.

"Mr Ingram slammed the NSW government when it announced plans to sell its share of Snowy Hydro but when the Victorians followed suit, he just shrugged his shoulders.

"I suspect all of us who supported increased environmental flows to the Snowy will now be wondering whether it is just the Snowy Hydro Scheme who has been sold out. I think we all have", Mr Hall concluded.

Media contact: Peter Hall (03) 5174 7066