Treasury and Economic Policy

People before Profit The Greens believe that the market economy should serve the people and the planet, not the other way around. This might sound like a straightforward principle, but the reality is that the current 'neoliberal orthodoxy' reduces people and the environment to mere commodities in service of the market.

The financial crisis unleashed in September 2008 has demonstrated the failure of neoliberalism. Unfortunately the last people to understand this are politicians from the Labor and Liberal Parties.

As it turns out, the solution to the environmental crisis is also a solution to the financial crisis: a Green New Deal. From US President-Elect Barack Obama to UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and around the world, political leaders are starting to grasp this opportunity.

The NSW government is doing the opposite. It is cutting funding to essential infrastructure such as the North-West and South-West Rail Links. The credit ratings agencies that have been exposed for their role in creating the current global financial crisis are running Treasury policy in NSW.

Treasury on Trial

John Kaye's office is investigating allegations that the NSW Treasury:

exerts undue influence on the decision making of state government, including ministers, departments and agencies, and
that influence is undermining socially and environmentally progressive programs and initiatives, driving numerous privatisations and so-called public private partnerships, stymieing public sector wage growth and thwarting public investment in infrastructure and services.

Have you experienced or witnessed such allegations? If so, we would appreciate hearing from you.

To send us your story, complete this form. To maintain your complete anonymity, you are not required to enter your real name and email address. We appreciate your time.

Latest News:

NSW govt pushes ahead with new coal power without climate study

10 August 2010

The Keneally government has failed to analyse the climate impacts of two new coal-fired power stations despite granting planning approval for them, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.

Keneally selling out households with power fire sale in China

14 July 2010

Premier Kristina Keneally's trip to China is a desperate attempt to sell the state's electricity assets at bargain basement prices, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.

Treasurer fails to deny $7.6 billion lost if power sell off goes ahead

23 June 2010

NSW Treasurer Eric Roozendaal refused to deny claims that keeping the state's electricity assets in public hands would be worth at least $7.6 billion to the budget bottom line over the next four years, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.

Keneally budget delivers for the big end of town

08 June 2010

Premier Kristina Keneally and Treasurer Eric Roozendaal have delivered a budget for the big end of town, according to Greens NSW MP and Treasury spokesperson John Kaye.

Keneally govt sabotages election promise honesty

01 June 2010

The Keneally government's decision to vote against its own charter of budget honesty legislation is a clear signal that they are not serious about credible costing of election promises, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.

Feature: Power stations approval based on underestimate of greenhouse gas emissions

07 April 2010

The Keneally government granted concept plan consent for two new giant fossil-fuel power stations, despite their own independent review warning that greenhouse gas emissions predictions made by the applicants for both Mt Piper and Bayswater were inadequate and likely to be a substantial under-estimate. In the case of Mt Piper, engineering firm Arup warned that actual emissions could be 2.1 million tonnes a year greater than stated. This is the equivalent emissions of 488 thousand new cars on the road. The Greens are calling on the NSW government to abandon the approval and insist on realistic assessments of the substantial impact these power stations would have on the state’s emissions.

ACCC gives NSW power sell-off cartel the flick

28 March 2010

The federal regulator has struck a savage blow to Keneally government plans to privatise key components of the NSW electricity industry, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.

Keneally govt rejects key union campaign

18 March 2010

The NSW government has dismissed a key Unions NSW campaign before it has started by rejecting laws opposing privatisation, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.

Roozendaal fiddles as tax base burns

13 August 2009

NSW is the only state that failed to make a submission to the Henry review of Australia’s taxation system, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.

Firth misleads school communities on land sell-off

15 July 2009

NSW Education Minister Verity Firth is deliberately hiding her government’s Mini-Budget commitment to sell off $239 million of public school lands over the next three years, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.