http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/04/29/nsw-liberal-party-goes-missing-on-power-privatisation/ now with extra source Sun, 12 Feb 2012 07:14:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/04/29/nsw-liberal-party-goes-missing-on-power-privatisation/#comment-14011 Tom McLoughlin Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-14011 There are some other profound reasons not to support the sell off from the Liberal Party framework - as you say poor market conditions. Also straight out decency - oppositions are supposed to keep govt to their policy platform which demonstrably excluded the selloff. The people just didn't vote for it. Thirdly, in the age of dangerous climate change as I keep on saying we as a society actually need the expertise and social capital/goodwill of the union movement to roll out massive energy restructuring (not least to demonstrate to developing countries it can be done). It might annoy but unions while proportionately smaller in membership still have very great coverage and that free riding non members can always switch to higher unionism again depending on IR conflict. Lastly even former AG NSW John Dowd (Liberal) was on radio 702 last Monday eloquently stating he was for public ownership of this essential service. It's all about balance of govt responsibility and market forces. There are some other profound reasons not to support the sell off from the Liberal Party framework - as you say poor market conditions. Also straight out decency - oppositions are supposed to keep govt to their policy platform which demonstrably excluded the selloff. The people just didn’t vote for it. Thirdly, in the age of dangerous climate change as I keep on saying we as a society actually need the expertise and social capital/goodwill of the union movement to roll out massive energy restructuring (not least to demonstrate to developing countries it can be done). It might annoy but unions while proportionately smaller in membership still have very great coverage and that free riding non members can always switch to higher unionism again depending on IR conflict. Lastly even former AG NSW John Dowd (Liberal) was on radio 702 last Monday eloquently stating he was for public ownership of this essential service. It’s all about balance of govt responsibility and market forces.

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