NSW Farmers is backing the Baird government’s electricity poles and wires privatisation plan.
The government wants to sell 50 per cent of the state’s network assets, the ‘poles and wires’, which it said would generate a $20 billion windfall. The sale would not include regional network assets.
Premier Mike Baird committed to spend the $20bn on infrastructure, including $6bn for regional NSW.
NSW Farmers passed a motion in support of the sell-off at a recent meeting of its executive council at Dubbo.
Business economic and trade committee chairman Peter Wilson said the sale is “an opportunity for regional NSW to realise real benefit and obtain properly funded infrastructure.”
“Regional and rural communities make up one third of our state’s population and it is only fair that a good portion of revenue from the proposed asset sale comes back to rural communities,” Mr Wilson said.
However, NSW Farmers – like other farms groups, pushed for action on electricity pricing.
Mr Wilson said continuity of supply, price and service would remain a concern for its members into the future.
“We want to see a standard electricity contract for all NSW customers which contains an agreed universal standard of service and a maximum price determined by an independent regulator.
“Funds raised (in a sale of ‘poles and wires’) need to be properly invested to enhance infrastructure.”
