Iemma should have the courage to put Snowy Hydro sell off to a vote in the NSW Parliament - 30 March 2006

Greens MLC Ian Cohen says the NSW Government must put the sale of the Snowy Hyrdo Corporation to a vote of both houses of the NSW parliament.

“It is completely unacceptable for the NSW Government to proceed the with sale of a public asset of this size without the authority of parliament,” Mr Cohen said.

“Yesterday the Senate voted and today the House of Representatives voted to sell the Commonwealth’s 13% stake in Snowy Hydro,” Mr Cohen said.

“Meanwhile the NSW Government which owns 58%, seems determined to flog off this prized asset without a vote.

“The Snowy Hydro was built and paid for with the sweat, blood and taxes of the people of NSW. It is not Morris Iemma’s to get rid of on a whim.

“This is a massive privatisation with all manner of social and environmental consequences that deserve full parliamentary scrutiny.

“It is just common sense to know that environmental flows will not be as well protected under a fully private corporation.

“It will also undoubtedly be more difficult to force a privatised Snowy corporation to clean up its old infrastructure and remove power lines from National Parks.

“Morris Iemma should have the courage of his convictions and put his sell-off plans to a vote of the NSW Parliament,” Mr Cohen said.