BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE AND LAUREN KEMPE

The state government has returned over $102 million to Hunter Water which was being paid by the corporation as a dividend.

Labor claims the dividend amounted to a $600 fee on Hunter households, which has only been given back following media exposure.

Shadow Water Minister Chris Minns says he’s worried it could happen again.

‘Common sense has prevailed in this instance, but our fear is with the privatisation of electricity assets, the government will be out for more and more cash-generating businesses and will see more and more of these events over the coming years.’

Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp says it’s not good enough.

‘We need a ministerial guarantee that this government won’t slug Hunter Water users like this and strip Hunter Water itself of its assets and cash, and then privatise it.’



Image Credit: http://morningmail.org/communists-running-hunter-water-fair-dinkum/