Regarding the sell off of QLD state government businesses, Peter Schuback writes:
The only union that I know of that stood up to the Bligh government was the ETU ( Electrical Trades Union )
Congratulations to them for making a stand against the government. The rest of the unions the people that are there to look after their members bowed down and will now let Bligh sell off your assets .
If I was a member of any union I would be after they bowed down to Bligh be leaving that union . Unions were formed to fight for the workers and to look after their interests . The actions taken by the unions in backing the Bligh Government sell off of your assets is nothing short of disgusting . The workers the people on low incomes and the pensioners are the ones that are going to pay if the assets are sold off . Remember back to the sell off and deregulation of the banks , The sell off of Telstra , The sell off of the power suppliers . If the government sells of the assets JOBS WILL BE LOST , Your weekly costs will increase by any thing up to fifty percent and that is going to hurt your back pockets .
Have the unions sold out the people that they are there to protect?
Peter Schuback
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And a different view on things from The Protege:
I am not sure what the fuss is all about – did anyone listen – the government is not selling off the forests – they are selling the company that buys the forest’s assets (trees) and sells them on to the sawmills. They are not selling off our railway – they are selling off one division that uses that railway to cart coal to the ports.
Currently we already have Pacific National as a second rail transport company – the scenario is we will possibly have another company joining the market to haul coal. In other states as well as overseas this is common practice – the state government will then charge the new company to use its rail network – an ongoing income stream.
It is not critical that governments run the forest plantations or coal haulage businesses. Provided they maintain control of the assets (land / infrastructure) there should not be a problem.
The sell off of our ports likewise – if managed carefully there is no reason why this can not be successful. When our governments start selling off physical assets such as mines to foreign interests, then we must be concerned. Protection of our sovereign soil is far more important than retaining control of non-core business activities. Likewise for council – council is better served focusing on its core activities rather than bold experimental business units as has occurred previously – this is best left for private enterprise.
The Protege
The Protege,
Is half right, but ask yourselves this. All or part of
OUR public assets is being sold for a discussed figure
of $15 billion !!! No one has $15 billion so this money will be borrowed. Can you imagine the repayments on $15 billion?
This will only be payed by one of two things; an increase in cartage rates or a decline in service.
This has been tried overseas by both America and the UK, in both cases it failed.
Ask yourselves another question, why would an astute
business person want to buy OUR assets? Answer, because they are big money spinners and as OUR population grows and it will, so will the profits.
History has shown, the people build the assets and when they are seen to be a success, the greedy buy or steal them off the people.
Finally, I seem to remember, not long ago a man telling us that the sale of OUR electrcal distrbution network would, through competition, reduce prices !!
Come in spinners.