Meeting opposes Hydro sale
By Tony Iltis
HOBART — The proposed sale of the Hydro Electricity Corporation was the subject of a Politics in the Pub organised by the Tasmanian Greens on September 19.
Senator Bob Brown and Trades and Labor Council secretary Lynne Fitzgerald both opposed the sale, pointing out that under unfettered market conditions small consumers, who already pay more than the large corporate users of electricity, would be further disadvantaged.
Brown explained that the HEC would be a profitable investment only if the Basslink cable were built, allowing Tasmania to produce extra electricity in peak use times for sale in Victoria. He pointed out the devastating effect that this would have on the state's rivers.
The case for privatising the Hydro was put by federal Liberal Senator and former HEC boss Brian Gibson, who argued that the money from the sale could be used to encourage investment that would create jobs.
This was disputed by the other speakers, and members of the audience, who pointed out that employment could not be guaranteed by giving money to big business, which was just as likely to invest it in technology that would reduce employment.
Expanding the public sector to achieve socially and environmentally beneficial ends was suggested as a better way of creating employment.
The challenge now lies with the state Green MPs to mount an effective opposition to the HEC sale, which the government is tying to the budget bill.