Egan slams ALP's anti-privatisation stance

Labor Leader Luke Foley must respect Premier Mike Baird's mandate on electricity privatisation, ALP stalwart Michael Egan says.

Labor elder Michael Egan has slammed his party's opposition to power privatisation and urged it to respect the Baird government's mandate on the issue.

Mr Egan, who is the state's longest serving treasurer and one that pushed for electricity privatisation in office, launched a stinging rebuke against Labor's current anti-privatisation position shortly after polls closed on Saturday.

"I was very disappointed by it," he told ABC TV when asked what he thought of Labor Leader Luke Foley's anti-privatisation campaign.

"I would've thought the Labor Party had grown up on that issue."

He urged Mr Foley not to block Premier Mike Baird's power lease plan in the upper house should Labor lose the election.

"I think (Mr Foley) should take a couple of weeks to reflect because the government will clearly have a mandate," Mr Egan said.

"Privatisation was a central issue of the campaign.

"It can't be argued that they don't have that mandate and I think the Labor Party has to look long term."

Mr Baird says his 99-year lease will raise $20 billion to be spent on infrastructure projects.


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Source: AAP


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