Premier short-circuits ALP over privatisation

Despite a humiliating defeat of his electricity privatisation proposal at ALP State conference last weekend, NSW Premier Morris Iemma insisted that the sell off would go ahead.

AMWU NSW Secretary Paul Bastian said despite the fact that 702 delegates voted against privatisation, the Premier was dogged in his determination to push on with the sale – the conditions of which do not address any of the issues of concern for workers in the industry. Only 102 delegates voted in favour of the sell-off.

"The sale means that there is no public control or scrutiny over crucial issues whether they be social, industrial and environmental.

"It means that everything is left up to the market. There is no commitment to deliver new base load power, there is no commitment to environmental considerations and nothing about keeping a cap on costs to the consumer."

Mr Bastian said that the AMWU along side other unions in NSW are committed to keep fighting.

"All the unions are united in their opposition to this and we know we have the support of the public. Eighty five per cent of the people of NSW are opposed to this sale."

In an address to the conference on the weekend, Mr Bastian called on all ALP Members of Parliament to respect the democratic vote of the conference.

"This is only the second time in history that an ALP Premier has openly defied the wish of the conference. The first time was over the issue of conscription in World War 1.

"People know that this sale is not a good idea. The evidence from places where it’s already happened like Victoria is that it has destroyed communities, cost jobs, raised prices and compromised service to the community."

Mr Bastian said that nothing was included in the NSW government's proposal about protecting the conditions and job security of workers in the industry.

"There’s nothing in it for the workers, for the community and in the long run, for the government."

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