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Labor MPs toe govt line on electricity plan
Melanie Darmody
Tuesday 4 March, 2008 12:00am
TEAM Macarthur the region's four State Labor MPs believe leasing electricity power stations to the private sector is vital for the future of NSW.
Camden MP Geoff Corrigan, Campbelltown's Graham West, Wollondolly's Phil Costa and Macquarie Fields MP Andrew McDonald are all steadfast on the government line, maintaining the plan is not a total privatisation.
The MPs, who dubbed themselves "team Macarthur" after the last state election, said they understood public concern.
Dr McDonald said the government did not want to fully privatise the industry because privatisation had not worked in New Zealand and California where "brownouts", mini blackouts, were common.
"We are going to run out of electricity if we don't build a new base-load power station in the next four years," he said.
"To deliver that sort of infrastructure could cost as much as $15 billion, one-third of the government budget. We are keeping the poles and wires but we are leasing the stations to the private sector and allowing the private sector to build the base-load stations that are needed over the next four years."
Mr Corrigan said he considered the proposal for a long time before agreeing it was the best move.
"With this the private sector builds the infrastructure and takes the risk, and money which would be used to build power stations can be put into hospitals and health," he said.
Mr Costa said the plan was complex and, despite being a unionist at heart, he felt the plan was the best solution for a looming electricity shortage. "I don't want to see infrastructure in the hands of private enterprise but we're not selling it, we're leasing it, and that appealed to me," he said.
"Independent pricing regulations will remain, maintenance will remain and the infrastructure will be built by private enterprise."
Mr West said the government aimed to ensure people had power supplies in the future.
Do you agree the State Government should lease electricity power stations to the private sector? Email editor@macarthurchronicle.com.au
