Will the Minister explain

Marty G at The Standard helpfully points out a $2295 -a-head conference on “Local Government Asset Management” where Local Government Minister Rodney Hide is the keynote speaker.  Later in the morning after Mr Hide’s speech is a session for which the blurb reads:

Privatisation is a contentious issue due to amendments in the Local Government Act 2002. Water will be the first area of local government which will move towards privatisation but what about the rest of local government controlled functions? What will the impacts be on asset management if more functions become commercialised in the future?

Hang on, I thought there was no privatisation agenda for local government?

That’s right, I remember.

The Government’s third super city bill repeals the requirement for a majority in a binding referendum before the Ports of Auckland can be sold.

The move to transfer 75% of the super city assets into council owned companies will exempt them from the Local Government Act requirement for public consultation before strategic assets can be sold.  So after the two year moratorium designed to ensure no asset sales before the 2011 election, a future Auckland Council could flog off the airport and ports shares without consulting the public.

The Government’s announced plans to free up the safeguards against privatisation of water will allow private ownership of water infrastructure for up to 35 years.

Maybe the Minister will use his conference speech to explain whether these moves amount to a privatisation agenda?