The Struggle Over Power Versus The Power Struggle

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday August 30, 2008

I presume those against the privatisation of power nominate themselves to have rolling blackouts when our energy needs cannot be met? Or do they expect that the rest of our states services should suffer (even more) while we fund the power sector so that we can hold on to a slowly dying asset?

Brad McMullen Wamberal

Morris Iemma has ignored his party, ignored the Parliament, ignored the unions and ignored the views of voters. He seems to believe that only he can be right on the privatisation of the power industry and that all others do not have valid opinions on the subject.

He can be certain they will not ignore him. Power will return to the people eventually.

Denis Goodwin Rosehill

All that Barry O'Farrell and his team have managed to do is to cement in tight control of the NSW Labor Party by militant unions. He may see some political advantage for 2011 in doing this, but NSW will have to suffer the consequences for the next21/2 years.

How NSW Liberal MPs can oppose privatisation of public utilities at a time when those utilities will need very skilful management to cope with emerging emissions controls is beyond belief. From now on they will be managed by the unions, to the great detriment of the NSW community.

Chris Cuthbert Epping

When is someone, anyone, going to stand up and make this Government accountable for its actions? It's obvious from Standard and Poor's placing NSW under credit watch that the power sell-off was to service debt and not to pay for the promised infrastructure plans. Why is no one asking about the levels of debt the Government has got us in to?

When is someone, anyone, going to stand up and call the NSW Labor Party the liars that they are? No plan B - well that came up pretty quick - and with legal advice too. Now they are bypassing democracy and pushing their legislation through Parliament anyway.

NSW needs a change and we need it quick before the whole state becomes privatised.

Jodie Bartley Lane Cove

Which part of the word "No" does Mr Costa not understand?

Hilary Oliver Mangrove Creek

While I understand that the Herald was supportive of the privatisation of the NSW electricity sector, surely an entire front page devoted to business concerns about how difficult this was going to be for them is over the top? I have also heard that most of the people in NSW were against the sell-off, a fact that, rather alarmingly, does not seem to rate with either the Government, the Opposition or the Herald.

Since threats seem to be the order of the day Mr Iemma, you would do well to mind us, after all you claim to represent us. Now let's stop this ridiculous privatisation nonsense and start taking climate change seriously.

Claudia Marckx Surry Hills

Many who believe governments should not run businesses knew the over-riding issue was that only idiots sell major assets at times of huge uncertainty over how to value them. It is best to work through the regulatory framework and then sell.

Besides a delay in new coal-fired plants will be a win for renewables and price-induced conservation.

When a government is incompetent, perhaps it is best for it to not have the funds to make ever-bigger mistakes.

Graeme Harrison South Coogee

Morris Iemma had to sell at least something to cover the cost of recalling Parliament.

Bill Carpenter BowralI joined the Liberal Party in 1978, not because I dislike unions or social democracy per se, but because I believe in free enterprise, and private enterprise in particular.

Since then I have always pitched in; helping at elections and, indeed, directing several election campaigns in recent times.

And now, on the 30th anniversary of my joining, I realise that I have no idea of what the Liberal Party stands for.

Gwynn Boyd Mosman

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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