Labor to oppose more state government privatisations

Premier Gladys Berejiklian floated privatising the Forestry Corporation on a recent overseas trade delegation.

Labor's Treasury Spokesman Walt Secord said since April 2011 the state government had sold more than $70 billion in public assets.

"The community's view is clear. It has had enough of the Berejiklian Government's privatisations," he said.

"The Berejiklian Government has already sold electricity assets, ports, the desalination plant, the New South Wales Land and Property Information and part of the Westconnex. Enough is enough."

Forestry Corporation of NSW is the largest manager of commercial native and plantation forests in NSW. It has several offices in main centres including Dubbo, West Pennant Hills, Wauchope, Tumut and Bathurst.

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Forestry Corporation accounts for around 14 per cent of the timber produced in Australia annually.

Opposition Natural Resources Spokesman Paul Scully said he feared for job losses in rural and regional NSW if the Forestry Corporation was sold.

"As we saw with the privatisation of electricity, these sell-offs result in job losses, especially in rural and regional areas.," he said.

"Selling public assets is a short-sighted approach as it takes away a stable long-term revenue stream for NSW.

"Over the eight years of the current government, Forestry Corporation has contributed $124 million in dividends to the NSW Budget, which is a revenue stream that helps pay for essential services throughout the state."

Ms Berejiklian told News Ltd selling public assets helped pay for infrastructure projects.

"I am always looking for opportunities to provide the public with the infrastructure of the future within a very strong budget," she said.

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