Privatisation has been a bipartisan sport in South Australian politics for far too long. From selling off the state’s public housing and power network, to handing over the keys to our buses and trains, this decades-long fire sale has short-changed the people of South Australia who are often left with poorer services at higher prices.
In 2021 the Greens secured a parliamentary inquiry into this endless privatisation. The inquiry shone a light on the damning effect privatisation has had on our public services and made a range of recommendations for the future that would improve the accountability of private corporations running public services and safeguard against the sell offs our public services without due consideration of the impact. Importantly, it recommended that a moratorium be placed on all future privatisations – until the recommendations in the report are actioned.
To download a copy of the full majority report click here
I introduced a bill to prevent the privatisation of public assets without the consideration of a parliamentary committee and approval of both houses of parliament. You can watch my second reading speech here. In September 2022 the Bill passed the Upper House and will now go to the Lower House before becoming law.
If passed, the Bill will provide an important safeguard, ensuring that no State Government is able to sell off our key public assets without seeking approval from the parliament. It will be the first time a state jurisdiction has moved to safeguard public assets in this way.
We will continue speaking out against the privatisation of our vital public services.
