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That's the problem with privatisation, it's pretty hard to reverse it because of the booby traps inserted like breach of contract etc.What's going on in NSW @SirRumpole , I thought Labor was anti privatisation? It sounds like they are using the "it isn't our fault, the last Govt did it excuse", it never stopped Dan Andrews ripping up past agreements.
Hopefully they don't go down the privatisation track, I'm yet to see it work.
Bus privatisation under the spotlight as delays and driver shortages worsen
The former head of the state’s bus operations will lead a taskforce to examine the privatisation of the city’s network.www.smh.com.au
The former head of the state’s bus network will lead a high-powered taskforce to examine the privatisation of the city’s bus services amid chronic delays and driver shortages.
Former chief executive of State Transit John Lee, who has also headed up private bus companies, has been appointed to lead the taskforce which was a key public transport election commitment.
Plans for a major shake-up of bus services across Sydney have been cast into doubt after it emerged that the former Coalition government signed several deals with private bus companies worth $4.8 billion just before the NSW election, locking the state into long-term contracts.
The taskforce will look at the equity of bus operations across the community and review routes region by region, as well as service delivery, including transparency and accountability of contracts.
It will also investigate infrastructure and technology to support the effective delivery of bus services, including the transition to clean energy, and any necessary legislative changes.
The establishment of the taskforce follows a parliamentary committee recommending late last year that the government consider putting privately operated bus networks back into public hands.
However, the new long-term contracts will make any substantive change difficult because the government will likely be exposed to break fees if deals are altered.
Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said Labor promised voters that it would deal with the consequences of the “former Liberal government’s failed bus privatisation agenda”.
“Passengers have had enough of service cancellations and routes being cut. They expect better bus services, and we need to do better,” Haylen said.
If an Opposition clearly states that it will break contracts if elected, the risk should be with the private companies to be aware that the contracts might be rescinded, not with the taxpayers.
