Electricity sell off a deep betrayal of NSW workers and consumers

UnionsNSW 11 June 2014

The trade union movement now moves to a full time campaign footing in its bid to fight the privatisation of the State’s electricity poles and wires.

The Premier won backing for the sell off yesterday from the Nationals, a clear betrayal of regional NSW.

Unions NSW Secretary, Mark Lennon said the union movement would now mobilise to fight the sell off and the price hikes and job losses it will bring.

“The Premier can give all the assurances he likes, but the public has seen the real world experience of privatisation – fewer jobs and higher prices.

“The private sector can only squeeze more from an asset by cutting costs or raising prices. Either way the public loses out.

“Selling off a natural monopoly is never a good idea. The community understands this and that’s why they are inherently opposed to this sale.

“We have seen what happens with partial privatisations before, in the case of Telstra. It leads to higher prices and an eventual full privatisation.”