“We’re going to encourage them to be innovative and try to figure out what the market wants in terms of service delivery,” Pallas said.
Victorian Greens transportation spokesman Sam Hibbins said the sale was a “shocking neoliberal” that put private profits above the public good, from a government that had “the biggest privatization agenda since then “. [former Liberal premier Jeff] Kennett ”.
“Leasing … would mean higher rates, lower quality customer service and fewer jobs, lower wages and conditions for workers over the next few decades. It will put control of another public asset in private hands. Hibbins said.
The Andrews government previously sold the port of Melbourne for $ 9.7 billion, the land titles office for $ 2.9 billion and some public housing developments.
The Services Union of Australia said Victorians would suffer worse service with privatization, but was relieved to have negotiated an agreement for existing VicRoads workers to keep their jobs in government or the new joint venture. .
Shadow Treasurer David Davis said the sale would raise license and registration fees and should have included a price increase limit in the deal.
Loading
“We’ve seen rising taxes, increasing charges, increasing costs that are hurting families, hurting small businesses,” he said. “[Daniel] Andrews has run out of money and is chasing yours.
Pallas said that while it was reasonable for the public to be concerned about service and rising prices when selling state assets, the VicRoads deal “was not a privatization” and the public would benefit from better service. .
“What we are doing is essentially starting a joint venture, a concession agreement that … will end after 40 years. At the end of those 40 years, the state hopes to recover … a better asset, “he said.
The morning edition newsletter is our guide to the most important and interesting stories, analysis and knowledge of the day. Register here.