NSW:No public servants at electricity inquiry

AAP General News (Australia)
12-29-2010
NSW:No public servants at electricity inquiry

SYDNEY, Dec 29 AAP - Public servants will not be allowed to give evidence before a
parliamentary inquiry into NSW's controversial power sell-off, says Premier Kristina Keneally.

But she has welcomed news the NSW auditor-general has begun inquiries into the transaction.

"I am quite confident this transaction stands up to that scrutiny," Ms Keneally told
reporters on Wednesday.

The legality of the parliamentary inquiry has been disputed by the premier, who says
her proroguing of parliament last week - two months earlier than expected - means it cannot
proceed.

Referring to advice from the crown solicitor, Ms Keneally has maintained witnesses
cannot be offered parliamentary privilege.

On Wednesday, she was asked whether she would allow treasury officials to give evidence.

"The government relies on the crown solicitor's advice, unless he indicates otherwise,
that such committees do not provide any legal standing," she said.

The advice was that committees could not legally summon witnesses or offer them parliamentary
protection.

"That situation would not be a situation in which we would have public servants attending
an inquiry," she said.

However, Ms Keneally said the Department of Premier and Cabinet had written to the
crown solicitor, Michael Sexton, asking him to confirm his 1999 advice to that effect.

Mr Sexton was on leave until January 10, but had been asked to reply as soon as possible.

Opposition and crossbench MPs have accused the government of trying to derail the inquiry
into the contentious $5.3 billion partial privatisation before the March state election.

The upper house inquiry is expected to embarrass the government in the weeks before
the state poll, with hearings on January 17 and 18, and a report to be handed down on
January 31.

But Ms Keneally said the auditor-general had broad powers to consider whether the "activities
of government are being carried out effectively, economically, efficiently and in compliance
with all relevant laws".

The auditor-general has already started making inquiries into the electricity transaction,
the premier said.

She added that perhaps the opposition did not like this because the auditor-general
"deals in facts", was non-political and independent.

AAP mss/tr

KEYWORD: ELECTRICITY WRAP

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