Greens NSW promise a $20 billion infrastructure program without public asset sale


Greens NSW launched its election campaign on Sunday, pitching a fully funded $20 billion infrastructure program without the privatisation of the state's electricity assets.

In a swipe at both the Liberals, whose $20 billion infrastructure pledge is contingent on privatisation, and the ALP, which the Greens says offers "very little infrastructure", Greens MP John Kaye declared the party could raise billions for local works and job creation.

At the University of Technology, Sydney, Mr Kaye announced a fully funded $2.75 billion local infrastructure program over four years to create up to 15,000 jobs and training opportunities, many targeting long-term and young job seekers.

"This is about lifting areas like the Far West, the Hunter and the Mid North Coast out of the consequences of decades of failed trickle-down economic policies," he said.

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The $2.75 billion will be spent through local councils and Aboriginal organisations to build and refurbish community infrastructure, including storm-water works, rural bridge and road repair, childcare centres and preschools, sewage systems and bike paths.

Mr Kaye added the Greens could raise $20 billion by obtaining a loan that would be serviced and repaid by extra revenue from reinstating the vendors duty on property speculators, higher poker machine taxes, and maintaining duties on large business transactions.

"The Greens are prepared to take on property developers, large corporations and the super-profitable registered clubs to provide the money needed to create a new future for neglected communities, young people and the long term unemployed," he said.

On Saturday, the Greens announced a plan to provide legal certainty for families and medical professionals around end-of-life treatment.

"The Greens will be moving legislation after the election to catch up with the other states and territories and ensure that advanced care directives are protected by the law," Dr Kaye said.

"No treating clinician should have to interpret the common law to know if they are protected from prosecution when they follow the wishes of a patient and withhold treatment."

Premier Mike Baird, if re-elected, said he would raise $20 billion from the lease of the state's electricity distribution and transmission network to fund an infrastructure program.

Opposition leader Luke Foley has promised to spend $10 billion on infrastructure - money raised by from deferring for 10 years a decision by Mr Baird in last year's state budget to abolish a range of business taxes and from "uncommitted" money already in the government's infrastructure fund, Restart NSW.


http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/nsw-state-election-2015/greens-nsw-promise-a-20-billio...

____ wrote on Mar 15^th, 2015 at 11:42am:


$20 billion dollar defacto tax increase to drive business investment out of the State?

Economic vandalism to the nenth degree.... 

Swagman wrote on Mar 15^th, 2015 at 11:50am:



Business paying their fair way is the Greens way. Where as the conservatives way is for the community via substandard services, should inflate the profits of multinationals.

____ wrote on Mar 15^th, 2015 at 11:55am:


Close all the businesses down then and see how prosperous the place is? 

Swagman wrote on Mar 15^th, 2015 at 11:58am:



Like the carbon levy wiped Whyalla off the map?

We all know about conservatives $100 lamb roast slash cities disappearing sort of claims.

two minutes hate wrote on Mar 15^th, 2015 at 12:09pm:



And where is that a policy?

two minutes hate wrote on Mar 15^th, 2015 at 12:13pm:



It's now 2015 ...
That policy was dropped in 2011.

By dragging that up shows you have little to complain about.

____ wrote on Mar 15^th, 2015 at 12:06pm:


The purpose of the carbon tax was to reduce CO2 emissions wasn't it?

The Greens tax on business will reduce business.

Reduce business and you drive up unemployment and instead of increased tax revenues you actually get less and with greater welfare expenses.

Economic vandalism as I said.