Letter to Premier Iemma

Nature Conservation Council of NSW

Dear Premier

The Rudd Government is expected to introduce laws this year requiring Australia to drastically cut emissions. Your government would be undermining all attempts at reducing Australia’s greenhouse emissions by seeking more fossil fuel-powered electricity. We cannot afford to use more polluting energy, at a time when we need to be reducing our emissions if we are to avert runaway climate change.

Privatising the electricity industry could further fuel climate change. Instead of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, private electricity companies will have one objective – to sell more of their product.

Keeping electricity in public hands means the government has control of the industry and is more able to cut energy use and greenhouse emissions. Experience in Victoria shows private companies will lobby heavily against regulation of the industry.

The rationale behind privatisation is flawed because, given climate change, we should not be investing in baseload power. Instead there should be massive investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

To privatise electricity could lock us into years of rising greenhouse emissions, when reducing electricity demand and cutting greenhouse emissions, should be your highest priority.