Poles and Wires !

It seems to be a case of " virtual reality " that if we want the facilities of New South Wales to be upgraded to the standards of the twenty-first century, it will only happen if we are prepared to sell state assets to make the money available.

This is already underway with our ports moving from public to private ownership - and now the Treasury is salivating at the expected thirty billion dollars which could be gained from selling off the " poles and wires " that deliver electricity to the electricity consumers of this state

Tantalising rewards are being dangled in front of the public.  It is suggested that the Princes Highway could become a divided road all the way to the Victorian border.   The " Connex " project would deliver western motorists quickly to the Sydney CBD.  The long awaited F-6 extension to St Peters could become a reality - and  at long last the log jam on the rail projects we so desperately need could be broken.

Considering this proposal involves a little bit of navel gazing.   The vast poles and wires network is something that we already own and which has been created with public funds over countless decades.   It costs a lot of money to be maintained, but it also delivers a steady dividend to state government coffers.   Once it is sold, that dividend vanishes !

Whoever ponies up that $ 30 billion to become the new owner of poles and wires will not be doing it from the goodness of their hearts.   They will see it as an opportunity to make a profit and we can reasonably expect that the charges for it's use will increase to make that happen.

The financial whiz kids can create a compelling case for selling assets to create the facilities that we desire, but it is also like pawning the family silver.   Every time we relinquish a family treasure we become just a little poorer - and we have seen some families end up on " skid row " that way !

It is also wise not to become mesmerised by the size of that thirty billion dollars injection of funds.   In today's world, it is not a fortune.   It will only provide " some " - and not " all " of the rewards promised - and then only if it is spent wisely.

Fortunately, we have a firm government promise that the poles and wires are safe for the duration of the present parliamentary term.   It is likely that the government will seek a mandate for the sale if it decides to bring the proposal forward as a policy item prior to the next election.

Before we make that decision, we need to know just what dividends the poles and wires are now delivering to state finances.

That old adage about killing a goose that lays golden eggs comes to mind !