March 4, 2006

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: SNOWY SALE DISGUST

Dear Sir,

Victorians should be outraged with the Victorian State Government's decision to sell our share of the Snowy Hydro scheme.

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.

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.

If Jeff Kennett had sold this major piece of water infrastructure there would be hell to play. It astounds me that Steve Bracks' actions are devoid of any criticism from the media or the Member for Gippsland East who was elected to Parliament on this very issue.

From a broader environmental perspective it does 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.

All of us who supported increased environmental flows to the Snowy will now be wondering whether it is just the Snowy Hydro Scheme that has been sold out. Clearly, we all have.

Yours sincerely

Peter Hall
MLC for Gippsland Province
190 Franklin Street
TRARALGON 3844

Media contact: Peter Hall (03) 5174 7066