Comments on: NSW power privatisation dead: any life in Iemma?

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

So Barry O’Farrel finally grew a backbone and did the right thing. Good on him. Iemma should be gone by Christmas. Sad about Michael Costa-I expected so much yet he’s the biggest disappointment since that other phoney-Bob Carr.

By: Phil

Phil — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Hillary?

By: Dave Liberts

Dave Liberts — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Just for laughs, this saga has now been drawn out for another month! Delayed until September 23. That’s a long time to leave a lot of people sharpening knives.

By: davo

davo — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Costa goes if electricity stays private. Where’s the downside?

By: Carlos

Carlos — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

NO WAY, NO HOW, NO SELLOFF!
Sack Iemma & Costa NOW!

By: Darren

Darren — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Iemma and Costa were supporting a policy the believe in. The left of the ALP were similarly opposing this because they actually believe in what they were doing. The Nationals were opposing because they don’t want to give a wedge to Oakeshott before the Lyne by-election. O’Farrell and thr Libs are opposing a policy they support.

By: Carlos

Carlos — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Goodnight NSW Cabinet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ae4oCXsjXY

NO WAY, NO HOW, NO SELLOFF!
Sack Iemma & Costa NOW!

By: Cathy

Cathy — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

The news tonight that this pair is ‘powering’ on with the sale has gone beyond the extreme. Now that the public service has replaced merit appointees for party-sympathisers, is it any wonder we’re seeing flaws at every level of governance. Our political parties endorse the most average and questionable individuals such as Iemma and Costa … (Orkopolous, Rose, D’Arcy, Purcell, Buswell etc) who in turn select party-sympathisers to foster policies that run our economies and lives. These are people who’d struggle in mainstream employment, yet their allowed to drive our health, education, transport and general economic and social welfare via a party vehicle. I’m all for democracy, but tonight the manic Costa and dozy Iemma rang alarm bells. Parties have an obligation to filter and vet their members very closely particularly those running for office. How Iemma and Costa ever passed an IQ/EQ or general medical test I’ve no idea. But the electorate should.

By: davo

davo — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Public, sorry. Private electricity is stupid. As are private roads, private hospitals and private education.

By: Evan

Evan — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

The thing I’ve never really understood about this sell off is Costa’s ranting about how irresponsible it would be to block the sale, that NSW needs the money for new infrastructure. The question for me is “why isn’t there any money?”. They’re running a business and should know that infrastructure needs to be replaced at some time, so why not put some money away or just borrow like every other business?

It shatters Costa’s credibility as a Treasurer. What was he going to do next year? Sell the Harbour Bridge? If he can’t manage the biggest economy in the country to include a revenue stream for infrastructure replacement he’s virtually incompetent. I won’t miss him. He looks funny too.

By: Warwick Capper

Warwick Capper — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

NSW desperately needs new infrastructure. That's something that everyone agrees on. The problem is really something which Costa has inherited from previous governments, Labor and Liberal - failure to plan properly, and failure to budget appropriately for infrastructure augmentation. Questionable management of existing assets by the State-owned electricity generators probably has something to do with it too.

Given the amount of money required, borrowing holus bolus is not the answer. The State's credit rating would nosedive, and the cost of loans would significantly increase. Increased borrowing as one prong in a multi-pronged solution may however assist.

With the failure of the privatisation of generation and retail assets, we have lost the opportunity make some very positive changes to NSW's infrastructure deficit. It was the right thing to do, but Iemma and Costa were simply not strong enough to keep their own party in line to get this thing through. It will be interesting to see what strategies the ALP come up with to save their hides in NSW.