NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet denied Sydney Water privatisation plans after candidates’ mistake

The NSW Premier said two Liberal MPs “made a mistake” when they showed support for the privatisation of a government asset.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet says two government MPs “made a mistake” when they showed support for the privatisation of Sydney Water if re-elected in the March election.

Mr Perrottet reiterated the Coalition had “no plans” to privatise the water corporation when questioned by reporters on Thursday after a candidates forum attended by MPs Nathaniael Smith and Wendy Tuckerman.

The two MPs held up ‘Yes’ placards when the candidates standing in the seats of Wollindilly and Goulburn were asked if they supported “the privatisation of Sydney Water or other government assets”.

The other Labor, Independent, Greens and One Nation candidate responded with no.

Liberal MPs Nathaniel Smith and Wendy Tuckerman said they supported ‘the privatisation of Sydney Water or other Government assets’. Picture: Facebook. Southern Highlands Express.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, the Premier said “they made a mistake”.

“The advice I’ve received is that they’ve made a mistake, they’ve clarified their position in relation to that,” he said.

“We have no plans in relation to Sydney Water. I’ve made that very clear every step of the way.”

He accused Labor of running a scare campaign in the lead up to March 25 election.

“Labor resorts back to form, that’s exactly what they do at every election – run scare campaigns and try scare communities across NSW,” he said.

Premier Dominic Perrottet confirmed there were no plans to privatise Sydney Water or other state-owned assets. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Tim Pascoe

Earlier, Opposition Leader Chris Minns – a staunch critic of privatisation – said the sale of Sydney Water to private buyers would increase water bills statewide.

“99 per cent of people that live in NSW can only buy or have access to water through Sydney Water or Hunter Water,” he said.

“If it’s sold off, they have to buy it from a private firm and we all know what’s going to happen to prices if the monopoly asset is privatised by the government.”

Identical comments from the offices of Mr Smith and Ms Tuckerman reiterated the Premier’s comments.

“This is a scare campaign and beat up from Labor and the Unions,” the statement said.

“The Premier has been clear on the Government’s position that there are no plans to privatise Sydney Water. That has not changed and will not change.”

Privatisation has been a recurring debate, with Labor criticising the government for selling off state assets such as the majority of Sydney’s toll roads.

The Coalition has questioned how the Opposition would fund their projects without the use of asset recycling, while not increasing taxes or increasing the state’s debt position.