2026-07-30
The Victorian Greens are calling on the Victorian Labor Government to immediately rule out any sale, lease or monetisation of Melbourne Water after reports the Government has sought advice on strategic options for the state-owned utility.
Media reports reveal the Allan Government has engaged EY consultants to explore options for Melbourne Water, raising concerns that Labor is once again looking to sell or monetise public assets as Victoria heads towards the state election.
The Greens said Victorians, already struggling with rising household costs, should not be forced to pay higher water bills so Labor can paper over its budget problems in the short-term.
The Greens say that this Labor Government has run a more infamous privatisation agenda than Kennett, and have introduced legislation to Parliament that would require parliamentary approval before public assets and services can be privatised or outsourced.
Quotes attributable to the Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell:
“It will be an utter disaster if Labor sells off Melbourne Water - once again leaving Victorians paying more for a worse service just like every other public service Labor’s sold in their privatisation frenzy of the past decade.
“From our port, to our roads, to public housing, Labor’s followed Kennett down the privatisation path and showed us that they’re willing to sell off anything and everything that isn’t nailed down.
“Victorians deserve better than a government that treats our public assets like a piggy bank they can raid, quietly selling off the services that Victorians rely on from under our feet.”