ABC

Australia Post sell-off possible: Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey fails to rule out privatisation

The Federal Government has left open the option of privatising Australia Post amid predictions that a wave of asset sales could reap up to $130 billion.

The Coalition has so far only committed to selling Medibank Private, which is estimated to be worth about $4 billion.

Treasurer Joe Hockey says the remaining $126 billion would therefore be mostly made up from selling off "lazy" assets primarily owned by the states.

However, he did not rule out the sale of more Commonwealth assets, including Australia Post, when asked what else might be sold.

The Government could adopt any of the recommendations from the commission of audit that has been asked to examine the merits of more sales.

"I'm not going to offer a sale list today," he said.

"The Federal Government hasn't got a lot of assets; apparently we own a lot of golf courses."

When it was pointed out that Australia Post could be added to the list alongside Medibank Private, the Treasurer said, "Each enterprise is evaluated separately".

Mr Hockey has previously outlined plans for "recycling" billions of dollars from the private sector, mostly pension funds, into new infrastructure through the sale of existing assets.

He repeated the plan at a media conference in Canberra today, and urged Australians to encourage their super funds to buy state-owned airports and ports so they could fund new infrastructure.

"Australian superannuation funds, including the ones that the union representatives are trustees of, they are investing in infrastructure offshore because there is not enough for them to invest in in Australia," Mr Hockey said.

He said the lack of guaranteed returns on investments dissuaded private sector investment, but that this was something the Commonwealth could provide.

"Some assets at a state level have been run down. Now we're paying the price for it in some areas like electricity and water," he said.

"Now is the time to take our super to put it into infrastructure assets that are lazy on the government balance sheets, and then use precious taxpayers' money to go into the creation of new productive assets.

"This is a call to every Australian worker; get your superannuation to invest in Australian assets."

'Biggest assets at state level'

Mr Hockey says the Commonwealth is in discussions with the states that have so far resisted selling their ports and utilities.

"We are very actively looking at the way we can address some of the challenges … and we are in extensive dialogue with the states," he said.

Mr Hockey praised Victoria and South Australia for having done the "heavy lifting", but said that would require change from Tasmania, Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia.

WA Treasurer Troy Buswell says his Government wants to spend the profits from privatising assets on paying down debt, not new infrastructure.

"Our purpose in the sale of assets is to reduce debt," Mr Buswell said.

"He wants us to be selling assets to go off, invest and borrow more money to build more infrastructure by way of economic stimulus.

"I'm not sure if we're going to be participating in that dance."