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MP cheered for stand on power sale
Wednesday 7 May, 2008 12:01am
He said the matter was still being negotiated and a vote would be taken in caucus, eliminating the need for a parliamentary vote.
But Mr McBride said if Premier Morris Iemma continued with his privatisation stand, he would not accept it.
Mr McBride was greeted with cheers and applause at the Labor Party's state conference last weekend when he spoke against privatisation of the industry.
The gathering of Labor Party delegates from around NSW voted 702 to 107 against privatisation, despite speeches from Mr Iemma, Treasurer Michael Costa and Health Minister Reba Meagher in favour of the sale.
Mr McBride said essential services should stay in public hands to protect working families from price increases and service downgrading.
"They are called essential services for a reason. They are essential for working families," Mr McBride said.
"In 1986 in the UK there were 19 energy providers. Now, after privatisation, there are six. When one puts up its prices by 15 per cent, the others put up prices by 15 per cent. Then they announce 100 per cent profits.
"Last year in the UK 22,000 people died from 'energy poverty' because they couldn't afford to pay their power bill."
Mr Iemma has vowed to proceed with the sale by the end of the year.
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