SYDNEY—NSW Premier Morris Iemma will face more than 60 motions denouncing his electricity privatisation plans at the Labor party's state conference this weekend.
Rank and file members opposed to the State Government sell-off have ensured the agenda for Labor's 2008 state conference records their anger.
One motion, from the party's Hamilton branch, goes so far as to call for conference delegates to revoke the premier's decision and for him to be "instructed to adhere to party policy".
"Conference strongly opposes the privatisation of any of NSW's electricity assets," another motion from the Macquarie branch reads.
"The electricity industry provides a yearly dividend of approximately $1 billion to the people of NSW.
"The current Government was not given a mandate at the last election to privatise this profitable industry to fund other election promises."
There are 66 privatisation-related motions on the agenda and only one motion, backed by one branch, in support of the sell-off.
The supportive motion, from the Kiama branch, notes the proposed sale does not "contravene the principles of the ALP" as it would free up public funds to be spent on energy, public transport, health and education.
"If this Government does not reorganise the electricity scene, then a Liberal Government sure will and with far less favourable terms than presently supposed," the motion reads.
The other motions voice strong opposition to the privatisation, support for ongoing retention of the electricity assets, or call for conference delegates to decide the future policy direction.
The two-day NSW ALP annual conference will be held this weekend at the Sydney Convention Centre in Darling Harbour.
Mr Iemma announced the sell-off plan in December, saying the move would save taxpayers up to $15 billion over the next 10 to 15 years, and at the same time ensure the state's electricity supply and reliability.
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