Joe Hockey looks to convince states to sell public assets to invest profits in infrastructure

Extract from ABC News website:

Updated 13 minutes ago

Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey will today attempt to convince his state counterparts to sell public assets and invest the profits in infrastructure.

The ABC understands the incentive the Federal Government is planning to offer the states could, in part, involve giving the company tax the newly privatised businesses pay to the states.
Federal Assistant Infrastructure Minister Jamie Briggs is confident most states will get on board.
"Most of the states are receptive to that; most of the states want to work with us to get more infrastructure built.
"I think you'll see a very cooperative approach, particularly from the big states," he said.
Queensland Treasurer Tim Nicholls is also keen.
"Anything that the Federal Government can do to help us both pay down that debt or achieve a pay down of that debt and invest in infrastructure is most welcome."
But new South Australian Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis says that move would see the Federal Government shirking its responsibilities.
"[Public assets] belong to the people of South Australia. They paid for them and no Federal Treasurer's going to force me to sell them," he said.
"We don't pay our taxes and charges to see our state-owned assets sold to fund infrastructure that the Government should be funding anyway."
Western Australia wants use the proceeds of asset sales to pay down debt.


The Worker
"Out of the frying pan into the fire" and I say no more.