Premier rules out more privatisation but not more debt
After promising no new taxes for households and small businesses – Premier Dominic Perrottet has also ruled out privatisation but it might come at the cost of a hefty debt bill.
State Election
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Premier Dominic Perrottet has ruled out more privatisation but conceded that the state may have to incur more debt to pay for the Coalition’s ambitious infrastructure agenda.
“We are not privatising assets,” he said in his strongest terms yet when asked about the government’s plans to sell off more public assets.
“I said we are not privatising assets, I can’t be clearer.“
Mr Perrottet has previously said the Coalition had “no plans” for further privatisation but did not go as far as ruling it out.
Pushed on how he will fund infrastructure projects after vowing not to impose new taxes on households or small businesses — Mr Perrottet said NSW’s debt position was “sustainable” and “manageable” but conceded he may have to borrow more before NSW can return to surplus.
“When it comes to taxation, you cut tax, you grow the economy, you provide opportunity for businesses across our state … That’s why despite the difficulties of the four years, and particularly he last two with the pandemic, we have 200,000 more people employed today,” he said.
“We have a pathway back to surplus.”
Labor treasury spokesman Daniel Mookhey said the Premier’s claims he would not introduce taxes in the next term were “ridiculous”, and argued the Coalition will be forced to privatise public assets in a bid to afford their construction to-do list.
“It doesn‘t matter what Mr Perrottet says before the election. He’ll have to sell Sydney Water and Essential Energy if he intends to keep his word,” he said.
Mr Mookhey said Labor’s decision to dump proposed projects meant they’d be able to balance their books.
“As we’ve made clear, we aren’t going ahead with the Northern Beaches Link, we are not going ahead with the proposal to raise the Warragamba Dam wall,” he said.
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