NSW:Roozendaal slams electricity inquiry

AAP General News (Australia)
12-24-2010
NSW:Roozendaal slams electricity inquiry

SYDNEY, Dec 24 AAP - The NSW government has given the first indication that state parliament
was prorogued early to kill off an inquiry into its $5.3 billion electricity asset sell-off.

The government was accused this week of trying to derail the upper house inquiry into
the part-privatisation of publicly owned electricity assets, after Governor Marie Bashir
prorogued parliament two months earlier than expected.

Premier Kristina Keneally has denied parliament was closed down to avoid scrutiny of
the sale and said its oversight will be left to the auditor-general.

News Ltd reported on Friday that Treasurer Eric Roozendaal has admitted parliament
was closed early to scuttle the inquiry.

"Any scrutiny should not be done by a politically motivated committee," he was quoted as saying.

"Some of the present members of the committee have already said publicly and in Hansard
they object to the transaction process.

"It has been prorogued early, it has been prorogued later (before past elections) but
at the end of the day we have got to work in the interests of the people of NSW."

The members of the inquiry committee met on Thursday and vowed to continue their work,
despite government MPs refusing to take part and NSW Premier Kristina Keneally declaring
the inquiry illegal.

The clerk of the Legislative Council, Lynn Lovelock, has advised the committee's chair
- Christian Democrat Fred Nile - there is nothing to stop the inquiry going ahead.

It is expected to report back before the March state election, with hearings on January
17 and 18, and a report handed down on January 31.

AAP mdg/wjf/it/was

KEYWORD: ELECTRICITY

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