It surprised more than a few people when the government brought it before the lower house before lobbing it at the door of their upper house colleagues.

It wasn’t expected to be presented until the upper house had completed its inquiry into the power privatisation legislation, and sparked some anger that the premier would be so presumptious.

Others would argue the government has a very strong mandate for its privatisation plans, given the March election’s convincing result.

So why wait?

Well, why rush it though and risk riling up the very people whose vote you’re relying on to get it through?

It may also hasten the demise of Tamworth’s Transgrid facility and its 65 jobs, but just how that will play out if the 49 per cent sale proceeds is somewhat unknown.

The union is agitating for assurances these jobs will be safe, but under privatisation all bets are off. Protection can no longer be guaranteed.

What will be safe we are being told, is Essential Energy, which is quarantined from any sale.

And for rural and regional residents there’s the additional carrot of a billion-dollar spend from the proceeds of the sale outside the metropolitan areas of the state.

It sounds good in theory, but that’s all we can base it on at this stage. The real implications and ramifications for NSW power consumers won’t be known for some time to come. 

Sparks are sure to fly in the meantime.

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A CENTURY of women in policing –  what a milestone – and one to be celebrated.

And celebrate they will in Tamworth this weekend, when a statewide relay to mark the occasion hits town, and our boys and girls in blue get glammed up for a gala ball tonight.

Congratulations to all involved and to all our female officers across the region – and those who’ve come before them – thank you for your service.

One can only imagine how tough it would have been for those first women back in 1915, but they blazed the trail for all those who have come since and our police force is the stronger for it.