Western Power workers reject privatisation proposal

Unions representing thousands of workers in WA’s electricity system have rejected the privatisation of Western Power as the solution to the state government’s debt problems.

In response to the downgrading of Western Australia’s credit rating yesterday, Premier Colin Barnett and the Treasurer Dr Mike Nahan confirmed that the state government was considering the privatisation of Western Power’s poles and wires.

The Australian Services Union (ASU) and Electrical Trades Union (ETU) joined forces in 2014 to campaign against the privatisation of WA’s electricity network.   The two unions believe that privatisation will lead to higher prices, poorer quality services, increased bushfire risk and fewer jobs and apprenticeships.

ETU WA Branch Secretary Les McLaughlan said that selling valuable publicly owned assets like Western Power was not the solution to address the Barnett Government’s fiscal failures.

“The Premier and Treasurer’s comments make it perfectly clear that the sale of Western Power is not for the benefit of the public or consumer, but purely a measure to pay off the huge debt they’ve accrued since coming into government,” he said.

“Privatisation is not the solution for the state government’s debt problems, and will only lead to higher prices and poorer quality services, as private companies try to squeeze every last dollar of profit for their shareholders.”

“In addition to higher prices and poorer quality services, privatisation also means fewer jobs and apprenticeships, and you would think this is the last thing the Barnett Government should be doing in the current economic climate.”

“The Premier’s comments only add to the ongoing uncertainty about the future of WA’s electricity network and to the concern of Synergy, Horizon and Western Power workers, who are understandably worried about their jobs, and the welfare of themselves and their families.”

ASU WA Branch Secretary Wayne Wood said yesterday’s comments were a clear sign that the Barnett Government had now added Western Power to the ever increasing list of publicly owned assets to be sold off.

“We have been saying for months that the State Government intended to privatise Western Australia’s electricity network in an effort to pay down the massive debt it has accrued since coming to office,” Mr Wood said.

“Mr Barnett’s use of privatisation as a way to address to his government’s budget problems is a betrayal of future generations, with today’s problems passed on to future generations to solve and pay for.”

“The assets and services that Mr Barnett is selling belong to the people of Western Australia, and Mr Barnett should not be privatising them.

“Mr Barnett’s comments yesterday now confirm that he intends to fully privatise our publicly owned electricity system if he is re-elected in 2017.”