Power sell-off committee: report today

Labor MPs opposed to NSW government plans to privatise the electricity sector say a committee report on the sell-off's impact won't change a thing.

The Consultative Reference Committee (CRC), established by the government to assess the public impact of the proposal, will hand down its report to Premier Morris Iemma today.

Labor MPs who have broken ranks and opposed the sell-off do not expect the report to greatly alter the government's position.

Former frontbencher Kerry Hickey said he believed the report would only rubber stamp Mr Iemma's proposal to sell off the electricity retailers and lease out the generators.

"I think we'll get what we expect. I don't think there will be any real change. I think they will endorse the government's position," the Cessnock MP said.

Coogee MP Paul Pearce, who has also opposed the sell-off, said the 10-person committee was stacked so that its outcomes always toed the government line.

"You only need to look at who is on the committee to realise you're going to end up with the majority in favour of privatisation," Mr Pearce said.

"Nobody from an opposition position, be it the right or the left of the party, and there is plenty to choose from, was chosen because it would have changed the numbers."

Mr Pearce said he did not believe the Unsworth report would resolve any of the issues raised by unions, dissenting Labor MPs and other groups opposed to the sell-off.

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