How do you want us to vote on electricity privatisation?
Every one is aware of the heated debate on whether the State Government should sell the electricity generation plant to private industry in order to get significant money to enable it to pay for public infrastructure for schools and hospitals. I placed before you the arguments for and against as supplied by the Treasurer’s Office and the head of Unions NSW. You can read the arguments on http://www.gordonmoyes.com/2008/02/14/are-you-concerned-about-the-state-governments-power-privatisation-plans/ This is the only place in the CDP literature and publications where both sides of the argument are fully presented and you are invited to express your opinions.
I received overwhelming support from members that Rev Fred Nile and myself should oppose privatization. You can read a fair sampling of the responses on http://www.gordonmoyes.com/2008/02/29/state-governments-power-privatisation-plans-responses-from-cvip-readers/
In the light of our CDP members’ responses, I declared unequivocally that I would oppose the privatization of our electricity production facilities. I would vote NO. Because the Government is now in a tight corner it is placing heavy pressure and offering secret deals to ensure it gets the required number of votes for it to pass. So far only the Greens and myself have declared we are not open to pressure or favour from the Government.
In order for the opinion of the CDP members to be obeyed and to avoid a split CDP vote, I intend to move at our next State Management Committee and State Council the following motion: “The Christian Democratic Party supports any proposed move by the State Government to borrow necessary long term funds for the provision of replacement and upgrading of major infrastructure in order that the State retain ownership of the means of electricity generation.”
If you support this motion you can let our management committee and State Council know by emailing me a reply.
Rev The Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes, A.C., M.L.C.
