Federal Labor on its own with Electricity Asset Sales

Energy Minister Mark McArdle says the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) should direct its anger to the Prime Minister and Federal Labor for encouraging the sale of electricity assets.

Mark McArdle said ETU claims that the Newman Government was making its own plans to sell assets are completely unfounded.

“We have said we will not privatise any energy assets without seeking a clear mandate from the people of Queensland,” Mr McArdle said.

Mr McArdle said the ALP had no credibility on the issue, after the Bligh Government sold assets immediately after the 2009 election, despite promising not to.

In last month’s submission to the Senate Select Committee on Electricity Pricing the Federal Labor Government stated that:

“The Australian Government has a clear path for better-functioning energy markets through the progression of a set of critical reform issues. These include: … privatising government-owned energy assets – continued government ownership of energy businesses is impeding greater competition and efficiency, and reduces market confidence by creating uncertainty and risk for private sector investors.”

Martin Ferguson, the Federal Minister for Resources, Energy and Tourism also stated that a Federal Government Energy White Paper would urge all states to privatise to encourage competition. 

Mr McArdle said the ETU made the assertions about asset sales in Queensland in light of his Department’s 30 Year Plan for Energy in Queensland.

“The 30 year plan is designed to deliver value to Queenslanders,” he said.

“The Inter-Departmental Committee and Independent Review Panel for Energy, which we acted quickly to establish, are committed to finding long-term strategies for Queensland.
 
“If the ETU is so concerned with the privatisation of energy assets then it should reconsider donations to the Labor Party and the waste of union members’ funds on political polling against the Newman Government.”

[ENDS] 12 October 2012

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