Newly minted NSW Premier Chris Minns has confirmed a plan to alter the state constitution to prevent future governments from selling off assets like Sydney Water.
The Labor leader was elected to office on Saturday night in an unexpected landslide victory for the party after a 12-year-drought.
Privatisation proved a key issue with voters, with the issue coming up early on in the final leader’s debate, and revelations the former Liberal government had explored the potential of selling off Sydney Water making headlines.
“It’s a lock to ensure (Sydney Water) doesn’t get sold off,” Mr Minns told 2GB’s Ben Fordham on Monday morning.
Minns made the extraordinary promise live on air that his government would “never sell those essential assets”.
“Unambiguously, privatisation in my view has gone way too far,” he said.
NSW Labor Leader Chris Minns has revealed a bold plan to change the constitution after winning the State Election. Picture: Gaye Gerard / via NCA Newswire,
The Premier revealed the news to reporters after his election win breakfast on Sunday morning.
He said his government would be preparing legislation to protect Sydney Water from privatisation as well as prioritise policies around essential workers and restoring essential services.
“We’ll be having a leadership meeting this afternoon with senior ministers-elect in the coming hours,” he said.
“We need to make sure that we are recruiting and retaining essential workers in our schools and our hospitals and I’ll be speaking with senior members of both of those departments.”
More to come.
Read related topics:Sydney