Electricity privatisation in New South Wales: What are the climate change and broader sustainability implications?

Abstract

A consideration of the climate change and broader sustainability issues surrounding the proposed privatisation of electricity businesses in New South Wales requires an integrated consideration of the economic, environmental and social dimensions of the proposal. In addition, the proposed privatisation must be understood within the context of ongoing energy reform in Australia. In an article published in this journal in 2003 entitled “The Implications of Electricity Restructuring for a Sustainable Energy Framework: What’s Law Got to Do With It?”, the author analysed the correlation between electricity privatisation and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, as well as the legal measures that should be enacted to counteract this phenomenon. It is worthwhile revisiting the issues raised in the earlier article in the context of the current electricity privatisation proposal by the New South Wales government.