PSI Affiliates the USU (ASU) and ETU (CEPU gained unanimous support from the 800 plus Delegates at last weeks NSW Labor Party Conference, for a new policy for the next State "Labor" Government to buy back less than 2% of shares in two energy distribution companies, that are currently on lease with 49.6% currently in Public Ownership. The adoption by the State Conference, of the ALP Branches, MPs and Unions was moved by Delegates who called for, improved industrial relations policies, less contractors in favour of increased apprenticeship and trainees numbers, additional skills with outcomes across the board, an ability for Members of Parliament and Ministers of the Government, too call for improved services locally, as well as the reporting structures of State Owned Corporations, as approved by the OECD.
The move to buy back the shares was on the basis of availability to purchase, until a clear majority of shares was held by the State Government, as well as committing the Labor Government to no further sale of the current 49.6% held in Public / Government hands.
The Delegates also called for the remaining third state owned electricity distributor to be left in 100% public sector hands.
The above actions by the Australian Labor Party NSW Branch Conference come on the back of a huge increase in electricity costs to families and businesses across the electricity privatised states, along with a new call by the ACTU to debate the issue of Government Ownership of electricity provision ...
See earlier article on electricity prices in Australia at
http://gmpsiaprec.blogspot.com.au/2017/07/electricity-prices-in-australia-has.html
Which reports on state owned electricity price increases in Australia, this year, as being at 3% (under public ownership) and almost 20% under privatisation in other States.
Additional update reference article from SMH at http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/unions-secure-luke-foley-electricity-privatisation-pledge-20170727-gxkg0a.html
