The Electrical Trades Union has urged State Treasurer Tim Nicholls to stand up for the interests of Queenslanders against the Federal Government’s “funding blackmail”.
ETU State Organiser Stuart Traill said today Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey was becoming “increasingly reckless and desperate” to shift Federal responsibilities.
“The news today that Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey will give States an ultimatum to sell profitable power assets that generate $1.5 billion in profits and other State assets or lose funding is the actions of a bully boy, stand-over man that should enrage Queenslanders and strengthen their resolve to save our profitable assets,” Mr Traill said.
“How dare Mr Hockey basically say to the people of Queensland if you want State-owned, affordable, safe and reliable electricity, your kids will still die on unsafe roads? It’s a disgusting ultimatum.
“We elect out State Government to manage our assets and provide services in the best interests of Queenslanders, not meekly accept ultimatums and blackmail from the Federal Government.
“We know that polling consistently shows that Queenslanders don’t support asset sales with opposition running between 70 per cent and 80 per cent in most cases.
“Queenslanders voted against the last round of asset sales and they will do the same again.”
Mr Traill said while he hoped Mr Nicholls would do the right thing, he held out little hope.
“We have it on good authority Mr Nicholls is not shy when coming forward that he wants to sell assets,” Mr Traill said.
“The latest example was in Gladstone earlier this week where he was putting the acid on Mayors to support the selling of assets or miss out on project funding.”
