Public Asset Ownership
Stand: That no politician have the right
to arbitrarily sell any publicly owned asset without a specific mandate from
the people.
Background: In 1976, NSW Premier Neville Wran sold public land between Pyrmont and Strathfield which had been reserved for the M4 freeway extension. If you’ve ever you’ll travelled Parramatta road in peak hour you’ll know what a big mistake that has been. However, they’re at it again, selling off our assets without out consultation or approval. It needs to stop.
Background: In 1976, NSW Premier Neville Wran sold public land between Pyrmont and Strathfield which had been reserved for the M4 freeway extension. If you’ve ever you’ll travelled Parramatta road in peak hour you’ll know what a big mistake that has been. However, they’re at it again, selling off our assets without out consultation or approval. It needs to stop.
Utilities are the perfect entities for governments to operate. They’re established, stable and predictable. Certainly they can't be allowed to lose money but they don't necessarily need to run at a huge profit either. What utilities are for is to provide affordable and reliable services to the community. These facilities, along with crown land should not be allowed to be sold without the express approval of that the relevant group of people, be it a local, state or federal matter. This is a clear situation where Australians need to Take a Stand. If any elected governmental body decides it wanted to sell a publicly owned asset, be it power lines, harbour fore-shore or a stock-route then it should first be compelled to put the matter to its constituents in a [mini]-referendum and let them decide. There may be instances when the decision of the people would be to allow the sale but having officials arbitrarily decide mid-way through their terms in office that they’ll sell-off this or that state owned asset to fund their coffers is unacceptable and Australian citizens should demand a much greater say on matters of this kind.
SELLING FARM-LAND TO OVERSEAS INVESTORS
This is another subject where the Australian people need to have a greater say, the selling off of Australian farmland to overseas investors.
A Lowy Institute pole conducted in 2012 found that 81% of Australians oppose overseas owners buying Australian farmland to grow crops or raise livestock. Selling-off Australian owned farmland today will cause us immeasurable regret tomorrow and I put it to the Australian people to use their voice to enact legislation to have this practice stopped. If this trend continues Australian farmers will still work the land, they just won't own it. Instead they’ll be employed by overseas investment companies to, as Barnaby Joyce says, "swing off a spanner [i.e. do all the work] as a service provider to foreign corporate farms."*