SNOWY HYDRO - 'GREAT RESULT FOR PEOPLE POWER'

The Nationals Member for Gippsland Province Peter Hall has described the decision to abandon the sale of Snowy Hydro as a 'great result for people power'.

Mr Hall, who is The Nationals Spokesman for Natural Resources, this week moved a motion in State Parliament calling on the Bracks Government to abandon is intention to sell Victoria's 29% share.

"At the end of the day, the three governments involved have listened to the community and backed away from the sale which the Victorian Nationals said was unnecessary and unacceptable from day one," Mr Hall said.

"I want to congratulate everyone in the local community, including the Member for Gippsland East Craig Ingram, for working hard to oppose the sale.

"Along with my colleagues in The Nationals, I personally raised the issue several times in the media and in State Parliament over the past four months, and I am extremely pleased with the announcements by the Federal, Victorian and NSW governments."

The Nationals Candidate for Gippsland East, Chris Nixon, has also welcomed the announcement that Snowy Hydro would remain in public ownership.

"The community deserves enormous credit for taking an active interest in this issue and lobbying our MPs to stand up to the three governments involved," Mr Nixon said.

"Now we need to make sure that the funding commitments made by the Bracks Government to upgrade Orbost Secondary College and carry out environmental works in the Snowy River are not abandoned.

"These projects are essential and promises for funding should not have been made on the basis of the sale of Snowy Hydro.

"The East Gippsland community has every right to expect the promised works will still be completed on time and on budget."

Mr Hall said he would be seeking assurances in State Parliament next week that funding commitments which had been made to the community would still be honored.

Media contact: Peter Hall 0427 747 066 Chris Nixon 0427 541 529