NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and Opposition Leader Chris Minns have sparred over the future of the state’s mega projects.Credit:Renee Nowytarger,Dominic Lorrimer
Perrottet has said he will borrow to pay for future multibillion-dollar projects his government has committed to,meaning the state’s gross debt may climb higher than the $187 billion predicted by 2026.
But Minns argued the government could not service that level of debt over coming years,and will come under immense pressure to sell state assets such as Sydney Water to pay for its election promises.
“There’s no point misleading voters before an election because they’ll have to pay for it afterwards,” Minns told theHerald.
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A senior Labor figure said the party wanted to set up an election fight over the cost of Perrottet’s massive infrastructure commitments,which the party will argue will ultimately end in more privatisation.
“He’s spending like a rock star from the 1960s – ‘there’s no tomorrow,so who cares’,” the source said of Perrottet.
Perrottet argued on Wednesday that the government’s current debt position was sustainable and affordable,and has previously warned Labor’s bid to remove the state’s wages cap would result in budget blowouts.