The NSW Government’s Special Commission of Inquiry into the sale of the state’s electricity assets by the previous Labor government will be headed by Justice Brian Tamberlin QC.

 

Announcing the appointment, NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell said he was determined to uncover the truth about the asset sale and the impact on NSW taxpayers.

 

He said the Inquiry would determine whether there had been any breaches of probity during the sale of the assets and what steps the Government should take to give families a better deal.

 

“The sale of electricity assets was a sorry saga in the dying days of the former Labor Government. The sale was conducted in a cloak of secrecy just before Parliament was shamefully shut down to avoid any scrutiny of the deal.

 

Justice Tamberlin is currently an Acting Judge of Appeal of the Supreme Court.

 

He was admitted to the Bar in 1967 and was appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 1981.

 

He has experience in the Federal Court of Australia and the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory. He was appointed Deputy President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in 2009.

 

Mr O’Farrell said the Special Commission of Inquiry would investigate whether the deal complied with applicable laws, policies and practices, including the circumstances surrounding the resignation of directors of Eraring Energy and Delta Electricity.

 

It will also consider the value for money achieved for the State and the benefits and costs, including potential risks and liabilities, of the electricity transactions.

 

Mr O’Farrell said the Special Commission of Inquiry would also provide advice on ways to promote competitive electricity prices and guarantee reliability of supply.