At no expense to the taxpayer, the Queensland government should seriously consider releasing up to $50 billion worth of capital. This would involve completely selling off both the state electricity grid (which could return as much as $35 Billion) and SEQ water (which could return an additional $15 Billion). This $50 billion could then be used to both finish the Eastern and Northern busways (metro expansions) as well as upgrades to the Cleveland line and the delivery of heavy rail expansion to Maroochydore, Ripley/Yamanto, Browns Plains and the Southern Gold Coast, with enough money to spare for regional transport upgrades as well.
Selling off existing assets can release previously locked capital to fund more infrastructure and state investments that can be beneficial for everyone.
Selling off existing assets almost always results in higher costs to the consumer. England is suffering right now from having privatised its water supply, because everyone’s water bills keep going up to ensure the shareholders enjoy large profits. Basic utility infrastructure should remain in public hands.
Yeah but firstly, I disagree. I believe it’s still more benefitial to the taxpayer. Secondly, it makes government debt more manageable. Although the bulk of it would go to fund infrastructure projects, a portion will also go towards paying off some gov debt. And as for the consequences of selling off such assets, well that’s a future problem for a generation of taxpayers that haven’t been born yet, to deal with in several decades time.
You’re suggesting we impose a big cost on future generations, who will already be having to deal with an aging population and the effects of climate change. I don’t think we can just handwave that away. It’s an important consideration if the long term consequences outweigh the short term benefits.
Mate, future generations probably won’t even afford to live here anyways due to high house prices etc. Many of them might end up leaving the state anyways.
Can we vote to privatise the local road network first? BCC spent 110 million just on road resurfacing, no other maintenance, no upgrades, just churning up asphalt and putting it back down again. Think about how much money the rate payers of brisbane will save by having a far more efficently run private road network. And with the savings the council can put the money int the stock market.
Others in this thread have already correctly explained how bad privatisation is so I won’t double down.
An alternative to this (albeit it would generate less revenue) could be if possible to direct the Queensland Investment Corporation to invest in Rail + Property developments like the state-owned MTR Corporation does in Hong Kong.
For example, QIC fills in funding for an extension to a railway line and gets the surrounding land to develop higher density housing and commercial precincts.
