Decision time for power sale !

Yesterday an enquiry headed by a Supreme court judge handed down a decision on the $ 5.3 billion partial privatization of the electric power industry by the former state Labor government.   At that time, the then Opposition described it as a " fire sale " and a " grab for cash ".

Judge Brian Tamberlin QC approved the partial sale - and suggested that there would be merit in proceeding with the sale of the remaining assets.

Despite this finding, there is no doubt that the removal of this state's electricity production into private hands does not meet the approval of the general public.   It has resulted in sharp price rises for consumers, and if a further sale includes the poles and wires - and the Cobbera coal mine - which provides heavily subsidized coal for power generation - then further price increases are inevitable.

It seems that the average person in this state has expectations that the state government will provide a range of basic services - and that electric power is one of them.    Originally,  this power generating industry was created from scratch as a state government function, paid for by the taxes of state residents.    When the previous government suggested selling the industry, there was bitter opposition and most people compared it to " selling off the family silver ".

Some people see logic in private partnership with the government to provide services that are otherwise financially out of reach - and the creation of toll roads and tunnels is often cited.       The difference is that these are new services that did not previously exist.    Electricity generation is already in place.   It was in public ownership - bought and paid for by the people of this state.

There probably is no option than to go ahead and complete the electricity sale now that the industry is fragmented and only partially government owned, but what is nagging many people is the thought that other forms of public ownership may now be questioned.

Could we see the public hospital system pass into private hands - and what will be the future scenario for water, education, the railways - and even fire and police services.

We accept the principle that " user pays " -
 but that acceptance was always on the condition that the government provided basic services at a subsidized cost as part of the return for the taxes we pay.

We still pay the taxes - but it now seems that basic services will cost " commercial rates " .   The principle of
subsidized services is becoming a thing of the past !