Mr Kelly released a statement on Tuesday in which he welcomed National Party support for the Iemma Government’s electricity reform.

“Energy reform must occur to secure the State’s future energy supplies and I am pleased to see the National Party finally acknowledges that,” he said.

“It’s pleasing to see they’ve (The Nationals) accepted the strong advice that investment is needed now and will support the Government’s plans.”

However, the statement was not just misleading but downright mischievous, according to Tamworth-based The Nationals MLC Trevor Khan.

“Minister Kelly is misleading the people of NSW with his assertions that The Nationals support Labor’s plan,” he said.

“Support for the review by the auditor general is not support for the privatisation plan.”

Mr Kelly had said: “I am pleased to see the opposition doing the right thing and supporting the plan.”

He went on to say NSW Opposition leader Barry O’Farrell and National Party leader Andrew Stoner had reaffirmed their support for the Government’s reform package on Tuesday.

However, Mr Khan said the Opposition’s obligation was to give all proposals proper and sober consideration and assess all options – which is what they had done.

“What we have agreed to is for the Government to undertake a five-point plan which includes a review of the package by the auditor general and a thorough rural and regional communities impact statement,” he said.

“We are still in a position where we have no idea what the transaction will entail and will not commit to something that is still in the formulation stage.”

Mr Khan said the hope was there would finally be a bit of show and tell via the auditor general’s report.

“We have extracted these concessions from the Iemma Government as an absolute starting point. We will inspect the reports we have demanded but we remain opposed to power privatisation,” Mr Khan said.

“Minister Kelly is playing cheap political games with what is the most important commercial transaction in 30 years.”