No asset sales: Pitt

ACTING Premier Curtis Pitt has shut the door on privatisation during the life of the Palaszczuk Government.

“We have had that position since we suffered a significant defeat at the 2012 election,” the state’s Treasurer (pictured) said. “I can rule out asset sales under the Palaszczuk Government.’’

The comments were an attempt at clarifying after previously saying privatisation could occur if there was evidence the majority of Queenslanders supported the move.

“Our position is clear, I don’t need to rule anything additional out,” he said on Thursday. “Our position was what we took to the election.’’

Mr Pitt, who toured a construction site at a suburban school yesterday, said the state’s assets should remain in public hands because they provided strong returns.

Privatisation re-entered the political debate this week after state-owned Queensland Investment Corporation bought a stake in the Port of Melbourne.

The QIC was part of a consortium that paid the Victorian Government $9.7 billion for a 50-year lease on the country’s busiest port.