Rees govt resorts to trickery to run from privatisation vote

It is the second time in a month that the government has used the same anti-democratic manoeuvre to hide from parliamentary scrutiny over its planned power sell-off.

Dr Kaye said: “When the Rees government realised that it had lost control of the Upper House, it pulled the pin on the sitting.

“The Greens had the numbers and had successfully re-introduced our No Mandate, No Privatisation Bill, which would have given parliament the final say on the sale of the electricity retailers.

“The initial procedural vote made it clear that with the support of the Coalition that the Bill would pass through the Upper House.

“Rather than letting their ‘Plan B’ privatisation scheme face parliamentary scrutiny, Leader of the House Tony Kelly used his privileged position to shut down the Legislative Council.

“Mr Kelly’s use of cheap parliamentary tricks is precisely the sort of behaviour that brings politics  into disrepute.

“The Rees government is deluding itself if it thinks it can sneak through the sale of the electricity retailers behind closed doors.

“With overwhelming public opposition to the privatisation, Premier Rees needs to rethink his strategy,” Dr Kaye said.

For more information:    John Kaye 0407 195 455