Arrogance Of A Dictator We Elected To Office

Snowy sale for future survival: NSW

May 21, 2006 - 10:34AM

The sale of the Snowy Hydro scheme is about growth and survival, not the
financial state of the NSW, Victorian or federal governments, says NSW
Treasurer John Della Bosca.

Speaking ahead of the Snowy float which begins officially on Monday, Mr
Della Bosca denied the sale flew in the face of Labor's position on
privatisation, or that it was a strategic pre-election move.

"This had nothing to do with the fiscal situation of the NSW government or
the other two governments, the commonwealth and Victoria," Mr Della Bosca
told ABC TV's Inside Business.

"This is all about the future of Snowy Hydro.

"The timing of this decision is related to the fact that Snowy Hydro needs
to start planning its capital expansion into the national electricity market
right now."

The NSW government stands to pocket between $1.5 billion and $2 billion from
the sale, which opens this week for investor pre-registration.

NSW taxpayers hold 58 per cent of the shares in the scheme.

Mr Della Bosca said the Snowy was "unique" among Australia's public assets,
and denied it opened the way for privatisation of the rest of the NSW
electricity industry.

"The Iemma government's position on electricity generation in the Australia,
the New South Wales state-owned corporations and generators is completely
clear and unchanged," Mr Della Bosca said.

"(Snowy's) economic function is completely different to the base load
generated stations that operate in the NSW public sector.

"It's completely different in its governing structure because no one
government owns the company."

Corporatisation agreements making NSW the regulator of water within the
Snowy system were "set in concrete" and would remain unchanged, he said.

Natural flows would be restored to the target of 21 per cent over the next
few years.

Better consultative mechanisms over the timing of the release of flows to
irrigators are being put in place, he said.

Mr Della Bosca would not be drawn on whether Snowy company shareholders
would be taking a special dividend prior to the sale, saying it was a matter
for the shareholding ministers.

"What we'll be making sure of is that Snowy is in the best health possible
when it's floated," he said.

Gulaga-Biamanga hand-back is a Backhander To Aboriginals

It is likely to be one of the biggest events of the decade on the Far South
Coast when the NSW Environment Minister, Bob Debus, comes to Tilba Tilba to
formally hand over what are today known as Gulaga and Biamanga National
Parks to the Aboriginal community. But there is a catch - the tribes will
only have token control.

After two years of negotiations with the NSW Government, the Aboriginal
Owners and Local Aboriginal Land Councils have reached an agreement on the
conditions under which these two parks will be leased by the State
Government for use as national parks. This has paved the way for the
freehold title to these lands to be given back to the Aboriginal community.
Don't cha love it "LEASED BACK" - the true term is "INDIAN GIVER" Mr Debus.

To mark the occasion the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and
the Aboriginal Owners have been developing plans for a formal handback
ceremony, which will be held on May 6. Just who had the upperhand of that
meeting is not hard to establish from recent history of Mr Devious & Co

Head of the NSW National parks and Wildlife service, Spin Dr Tony Fleming,
said that he was looking forward to the event. The spin doctor was reported
as saying;

“Undeniably this will be an historic occasion and one in which I will be
very proud to be involved.

“The return of these lands to the Aboriginal owners is just and right and
has been a long time coming.

"It is a recognition in law that these lands have a deep spiritual and
cultural significance for all Aboriginal people and belongs in their hands.

“While they will continue to be managed as national parks, these lands can
now be managed under a joint board of management with majority Aboriginal
owner representation.

“It is proper that we mark this chapter in our history with a formal
handback ceremony followed by a wholehearted celebration in which the entire
community can be involved.

“I would like to invite all members of the community, Aboriginal and
non-Aboriginal, to join us on the day as this will be an opportunity for
everyone to show their support for the reconciliation process,” Dr Fleming
said.

THE BOTTOM LINE:
This is the reason we have the most highly paid Spin Doctor Tony Fleming
promoted by Mr Devious to the top job in National Park not only is he a
SPINNER he also works perfectly as the governments marionette and a
prominent flag waver for the Radical Green movement - for this nation and
the people Dr Fleming has no interest unless that is if his wallet is
wounded or his employment is threatened.

The Aboriginals on paper will own the dirt - The Aboriginals will do exactly
what Dr Fleming says - The Aboriginals control bugger all. Nothing has
changed with this land all in the name of self preservation by the Debus and
Fleming's of this world. A façade to be seen working with the indigenous
people with the bottom line still set in place.

Hey - it's your vote, and it's our money !