The NSW Government has this morning passed legislation to amend the constitution to preserve public ownership of Sydney Water and Hunter Water and agreed to set up a parliamentary inquiry to investigate and report on governance systems for local water utilities in consultation with local government.
Premier, Chris Minns says the passage of the Constitutional Amendment (Sydney Water and Hunter Water) Bill 2023 through the Legislative Council will successfully protect the two entities from privatisation.
“Before the election I made a commitment to protect Sydney Water in the constitution. Today my government has delivered on that promise.”
“These two state owned corporations are crucial assets to how we live in NSW – they provide so many of us with the water we drink and use each day that it is simple common sense to lock in their public ownership and protect them from privatisation.
“With this new legislation we have effectively put a sphere of protection around both entities, preventing privatisation, preventing unreasonable price spikes and ensuring these essential assets will always belong to the people of NSW,” he said.
He said the successful passage of the Bill amends the Constitution Act to now require the two specific corporations, and their main undertakings, to remain in public ownership by ensuring that those entities may not be sold or disposed of.
The new provisions of the act prevent Governments from selling off Sydney Water and Hunter Water. Only an Act of Parliament will be able to undo the privatisation protections.
In securing the passage of the bill, the Government has agreed, with the support of the crossbench, to establish a parliamentary inquiry that will examine what can be done to safeguard and support other regional water utilities. This includes preventing privatisation, and an examination of any additional protections these assets might require now and into the future.
The joint select committee for the parliamentary inquiry will inquire into and report on the governance systems and regulatory and assurance framework for local water utilities and will consult with local government.
“Today we have delivered on our election commitment to keep Sydney and Hunter Water in public hands,” said Minister for Water, Rose Jackson.
“I want to thank the crossbench for their constructive involvement in this matter, and I am keen to hear what the Parliamentary Inquiry finds in terms of how we can better protect other regional water assets and secure the future of water services to all parts of NSW.
“This inquiry will be focussed on uncovering what our government can do to better support our water assets. We will be guided by the voices of our community and locals on the ground on how to best do this.”
“This inquiry is just another example of how we are taking a serious approach to a serious issue and putting the views of the NSW people – in the case of this Inquiry, the people of regional NSW – front and centre in all our policymaking decisions.”
The Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) had late last week called for an expansion of the scope of a new Bill to include local government in the proposed amendment.
“Over many years across Australia, state governments have increasingly been taking control of water and sewer utilities from Local Government, causing a significant increase in cost to residents, as well as loss of local autonomy in decision making that guarantees future growth direction,” said CMA Chairman, Gunnedah Mayor, Jamie Chaffey.
“Regional Councils also rely heavily on our utilities for our future viability. That has never been more critical than now. Financial viability was identified as our members’ most important issue in our recent member survey.
“The CMA stands firm in our pursuit of equity of service provision for the residents of our communities,” Chairman Chaffey said.
“We stand united with our members to advocate for residents who choose to call country NSW home. We will continue to work with both State and Commonwealth governments to achieve the best quality of life and provision of services for our residents, and we look forward to a prosperous future,” he said.
