REGIONAL infrastructure will benefit if the proposed long-term lease of the state's electricity network goes ahead, a meeting heard last Thursday.
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The state government will seek at mandate at the March election to go ahead with its proposal to lease 49 per cent of the state's electricity network or the so-called poles and wires.
Essential Energy is exempt from the proposed transaction.
Deputy Premier, NSW Nationals leader and Oxley MP Andrew Stoner spoke about the proposal during a breakfast meeting, which brought together the NSW Nationals parliamentary team and community members, at The Westport Club.
Beneficiaries from the sale proceeds could include regional airports, cruise ship terminals and major teaching hospitals.
"It [electricity privatisation] is a very tough issue and it's a very gutsy move by [Premier] Mike Baird, supported by The Nationals in taking this to an election," Mr Stoner said.
"We are seeking a mandate to transform NSW."
Some 76 people at the breakfast also heard from Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams, Roads and Freight Minister Duncan Gay and Natural Resources Lands and Water Minister Kevin Humphries.
In response to a question, Mr Humphries said the draft Port Macquarie foreshore plan of management would go out for comment for 28 days. "We will be signing off on it," he said.
"Business needs certainty and the community needs certainty about that foreshore."
Yesterday's breakfast was part of the party's week-long parliamentary bus tour covering almost 900 kilometres from the Tweed to Tamworth.
Mr Stoner said one of the bus tour's purposes was to get feedback at a policy level.