O'Farrell's dirty deal on electricity privatisation
Posted: Thursday, 31 May 2012 | By: John Robertson
Premier Barry O'Farrell could be referred to the Independent Commission Against Corruption over reports that a secret agreement was reached to support an increase in entitlements for the Shooters and Fishers' Party by $70,000 per Member of Parliament – in the same week the minor parties agreed to back the Government's electricity privatisation bill.
"Under this secret agreement, the Shooters and Fishers' Party and the Christian Democrats could benefit to the tune of $280,000 per year, or over $1 million per term", said Opposition Leader John Robertson today.
"If taxpayer dollars have been committed to the Shooters and Fishers' Party, in exchange for their support – Barry O'Farrell must withdraw that offer immediately, or I will refer him to the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
"Given this agreement was reached the same day as the Shooters and Fishers and Christian Democrats voted for the Premier's electricity privatisation laws, Barry O'Farrell has some very serious questions to answer.
"Has the Premier paid off the Shooters and Fishers' Party for their support?
"Has he bought off the minor parties by offering financial inducements to get his electricity privatisation deal over the line?
"Has he been caught out offering bullets and cash for votes?
"Were any other secret inducements offered to the Shooters to support the electricity sell off?
"And is there anything else that the people of NSW haven't been told about?
"The Government has done a dirty deal that's bad for households, bad for taxpayers and bad for the environment."
Mr Robertson said the deal is a double whammy for households already struggling to make ends meet.
"Taxpayers shouldn't be slugged twice – once on their electricity bills and again to pay for politicians," said Mr Robertson.
"Barry O'Farrell has betrayed the people of NSW and it will not be quickly forgotten."
The revelations follow the announcement yesterday that hunting will now be allowed in National Parks – despite promises to the contrary by the Premier last year.
"We have no intention of doing deals with the minor parties."
"There will not be a decision to turn our national parks into hunting reserves."
(Barry O'Farrell, Sydney Morning Herald, 13 April 2011)
Tags: Barry O'Farrell, electricity, energy, environment, hunting, ICAC, John Robertson, National Parks