Re: Article in AFR

[Bill <billguest@the.net.nz>]

I have to agree with your comment. NZ Railways got into an awful mess under
government ownership. However, simply parcelling the whole lot up and selling
it is not the answer either. The temptation to drain out cash short term,
leaving a run down infrastructure and rolling stock, seems to be irresistible.
The structure of the regulatory framework (especially where safety is
concerned), the resources made available to enforce those regulations, and the
ability of governments to resume occupation or ownership under some
circumstances, seem to me to be very important issues that have been badly
dealt with.

Bill

Barry Campbell wrote:

> Michael wrote in message <8FD9A9C33gunzelT333@139.130.239.94>...
> >Bill <billguest@the.net.nz> wrote in article
> ><39F7AE34.A0B564A7@the.net.nz>:
> >
> >>However, I am sure that the Australian Treasury and transport "gurus"
> >>will get it just right, and privatisation will be a roaring sucess for
> >>you all...........
> >
> >Of course privatisation will be a roaring success in the long run for all
> >Australians. Now pardon me, while I go and feed the pigs, they have a long
> >flight ahead of them.
> >
> It can't be much worse than government ownership. Don't take the UK
> experience as applicable to Australia. That mistake has been made in the
> past.
>
> Barry Campbell