It's actually paid for from dividends paid by State owned Energy Companies Energex and Ergon, which the right wing nutters wanted to sell,
When did the "right wing nutters" want to sell them? It's a bit hard when the left wing nutters have been in power.
A story: I worked for the then Northern Electric Authority in the early '70s. Our major capital work at the time was duplicating the 135kV coastal line to the north [vulnerable to cyclones] with a 275kV line, Gladstone to Moranbah inland. It was a big project, good policy but Hell, the wind wasn't blowing so what's the rush?
OK, you can say he was protecting his coal mines that NEED power for the draglines but had he not done it no labor gov since would have and the north would be a backwater.
It's OK for a gov to sell mature capital assets BUT the money raised should be invested in the next rail line, port, power station, whatever, NOT to meet recurrent expenses. That's like selling the porch to buy a TV set.
