Mr Costa had earlier on Thursday briefed local government representatives from the Riverina and Murray regions on the sell-off plans and hammered home the government’s line that it was not privatising the state’s energy sector.

“We’re not privatising energy, I was in Wagga to talk about our energy reforms. And I make the point again, that all the physical assets will remain in public ownership,” Mr Costa said.

While the poles and wires will remain in public ownership, it is the sale of the state’s electrical retailers that has raised concerns of price rises and job losses.

But Mr Costa said he used the meeting to “dispel a lot of myths” surrounding the “reforms”.

“The prime issues were the alleged increases in prices and I was able to point out that where there have been energy reforms in the past there’s been downward pressure on prices,” he said.

“And the other was concerns about job security and as was pointed out, any worker that’s in the retail area that’s affected by the changes has been given a guarantee not only of their job but of the location.”

However, Mr Costa warned residents they could expect their electricity bills to rise if the federal government implemented the carbon trading program outlined in the Garnaut report on climate change.

“The Garnaut report that’s currently being considered by the federal government is about introducing a national carbon trading regime and there is absolutely no doubt that electricity prices will go up,” he said.

“That’s independent of who owns what assets, whether they’re in government ownership or owned by the private sector, that’s part of the carbon trading regime.”

Local MLC Tony Catanzariti said Mr Costa’s visit was a coup for the region.

“It’s good to see him come out

here and address some of the issues himself,” Mr Catanzariti said. “He’s very genuine and very passionate about what he does and wants to make sure that people in country areas are kept in the loop about what’s going on.”

While in Griffith, Mr Costa accompanied Murrumbidgee Irrigation’s (MI) chairman Dick Thompson and CEO Brett Tucker on a field trip to look at the new drip systems and pressurised irrigation pumps being rolled out in the region.

SURVEYING Murrumbidgee Irrigation’s (MI) new water saving infrastructure are MI chairman Dick Thompson, NSW Treasurer Michael Costa, Hanwood horticulturist Vince Schirripa and local MLC Tony Catanzariti.