From dumped ministers, to party defections and expulsions, to an attack on the civil liberties of Queenslanders, to financial mismanagement and the debasement of public services, to picking fights with doctors... a good kicking at the next State election couldn't happen to a nastier bunch of ideologues.
But rather than focus on how amateurish the Newman government is, perhaps it is more productive to look at the lived experience of electricity asset sales... a core promise the Newman government will be taking to the next election
The information contained below is an extract from an article by John Quiggan in Dissent Magazine (Issue #41), titled Privatisation of Queensland electricity assets: An Economic Evaluation.
John's words are in italics
Victoria
Privatised by the Kennett Liberal government in 1993. the attractiveness of the assets was enhanced by a general increase in prices implemented before the sale. This was arguably the most favourable case for privatisation… Despite this, the benefits to the public were limited. The interest savings realised by using sale proceeds to repay debt were about the same as the earnings foregone… the Kennett government survived only two terms… and… remained in opposition for three terms after Kennett’s defeat.
South Australia
The electricity industry was privatised by the Olsen Liberal government in 1998, despite a promise to the contrary in the previous election in 1997. Privatisation produced both an increase in electricity prices and a substantial loss to the public. The conservative government was defeated in the subsequent 2001 elections and has remained in opposition ever since.
Tasmania
The Rundle (Liberal) government proposed the partial privatisation… despite… analysis showing that the likely sale price would be insufficient to offset the loss of earnings… The Rundle government was defeated… and… flows of income to the Tasmanian government from its publicly owned assets have remained substantial.
New South Wales
The Chikarovski led Liberal opposition was overwhelmingly defeated in an election fought over the issue. Despite this successive Labor governments sought to implement privatisation policies, with disastrous political consequences and no economic benefits. This pattern has been continued by the O’Farrell Coalition government, which now plans to sell the remaining electricity generators.
Western Australia
The Barnett Liberal government is currently proposing privatisation of electricity assets.
And of course, the Bligh government's privatisation moves were a disaster for the state and for her government.
The sale of Queensland electricity assets has been put forward as a way to reduce electricity prices and improve the state's financial position. In reality, it will achieve neither of these goals.
The full text of Professor's excellent article is available by subscribing to Dissent Magazine.
Come the next state election, there will be a critical choice to make... do we let the LNP sell Queenslanders up the river by letting their assets go at bargain prices to the LNP's mates in business? And in the process do we allow private enterprise to prey on Queenslanders by ensuring permanently inflated electricity prices for ever more?
I'd like to think I know how Queenslanders feel on this issue, but it remains to be seen how they will vote.