Federal Labor has warned Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff of the dangers of privatising state-owned assets.
In a letter to Rockliff, Federal Labor expressed their “deep concern” over comments he made during his State of the State address on March 4.
The letter, signed by all federal Labor members, senators and candidates in Tasmania, was sent to Rockliff on Saturday.
It stated that selling assets owned by the Tasmanian community would put essential services and Tasmanians at risk.
“Selling these assets means Tasmanians will pay – through higher costs, job losses and service cuts,” the letter said.
“Privatising Tasmania’s power network will drive up electricity costs, just as Peter Dutton’s $600 billion nuclear plan will burden Australians with higher bills.”
The letter also criticised the Liberals’ lack of a plan to address the cost of living, saying both state and federal Liberals are “making energy more expensive”.
“Tasmanians have been left in the dark about your plans to sell off these assets, with no warning before last year’s election about this planned sale,” the letter said.
“Tasmanians cannot afford the privatisation of these assets.”
Rockliff indicated on Monday that the government would look at the options of selling some of its government-owned businesses, including Metro Tasmania and the Motor Accident Insurance Board, to pay down debt.
The announcement was widely criticised by both state Labor and the Greens, while it was commended by the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
