
Push to require parliamentary approval of privatisations
Any privatisation of a state-owned asset in South Australia would have to be approved by both houses of parliament, under new legislation set to be tabled by the Greens next week.
Any privatisation of a state-owned asset in South Australia would have to be approved by both houses of parliament, under new legislation set to be tabled by the Greens next week.
Transport Minister Corey Wingard is under fire after claiming that the Marshall Government’s $2b privatisation of Adelaide’s metropolitan train network will save taxpayers “hundreds of millions of dollars a year” – despite being unable to state the network’s current annual running costs.
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The Marshall Government commissioned multiple investigations into the leaking of “confidential information” about its $2.14 billion rail operations privatisation, prompting one unsuccessful bidder to demand the procurement process be halted – just days before it was awarded to a rival firm.
Adelaide’s metropolitan rail service will be run by a private operator from January, with the State Government paying Keolis Downer $2 billion to run the network for eight years.
The State Government is spending millions of dollars on high-level Sydney-based contractors because “the local talent pool is not up the task”, the head of SA’s transport department has told parliament.
The Marshall Government would need to find alternative savings measures if the sell-off of the state’s rail services did not proceed, the head of the Transport Department has conceded – despite previous assertions proceeds would be reinvested into improving the network.
Three consortia shortlisted to bid for the Marshall Government’s privatisation of Adelaide’s rail services have been invited to tender, including a group that was last year accused of trying to help Transport Minister Stephan Knoll “spin” the sale.