Labor’s Secret Plan To Privatise Public Assets Again | AUSTRALIAN ALERT 13 Aug 2026

Labor promised they'd never privatise again but leaked cabinet papers reveal a secret plan (codenamed "Project Nerva") to sell off Melbourne Water, valuing $18 billion of public infrastructure for a fraction of its worth. Robbie Barwick and Richard Bardon break down how this follows the exact same playbook as Jeff Kennett's 1990s privatisation spree, tracing the neoliberal network (Tasman Institute, Macquarie Bank, Roger Douglas) behind decades of asset sell-offs, plus the UK's Thames Water disaster as a warning of what's coming. Also in this episode: David McBride released from prison, the Commonwealth Bank's record $11 billion profit, Gerard Rennick's policy platform, and an update on the ASIO Amendment Bill. Chapters 0:00 Introduction 1:48 Breaking: David McBride Released 3:13 Why Privatisation Is a Crime 7:55 Victorian Labor's Financial Bind 12:58 "Project Nerva" Started in Secret 15:20 Leaked Papers: Selling Melbourne Water 18:00 The Thames Water Warning 20:53 The 2003 Constitutional Loophole 23:35 History: Kennett & "Project Victoria" 27:05 The Tasman Institute Network 33:09 Keating and the Rigged Report 37:47 Macquarie Bank's Payday 44:34 Commonwealth Bank's $11B Profit 51:29 Gerard Rennick's Policy Pitch 54:49 ASIO Bill Update Become a member of the Australian Citizens Party: https://citizensparty.org.au/membersh... Donate to support the Citizens Party campaigns: https://citizensparty.org.au/donate?u... For cheques and direct deposits, call 1800 636 432 Lookup your Senator here: https://citizensparty.org.au/aus-senate Sign the Citizens Party Petition to create an Australia Post Bank!: https://info.citizensparty.org.au/aus... Subscribe to the Australian Alert Service: https://info.citizensparty.org.au/sub... Sign up for ACP media releases: https://citizensparty.org.au/join-ema... Contact your MP (search by name or electorate): https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_M... Visit the Citizens Party Campaigns page for a run down of the branch closure media coverage: https://citizensparty.org.au/campaigns Follow us on: X: https://x.com/CitizensPartyAU TikTok:   / citizenspartyau   Facebook:   / citizenspartyau   Instagram:   / citizenspartyau   YouTube:    / citizenspartyau   LinkedIn:   / citizenspartyau   Telegram: https://t.me/CitizensPartyAU #AustralianPolitics #AustralianAlert #CitizensParty #AusPol #Neoliberalism #CommonwealthBank #ASIO #AustralianPolitics #AusPol #PeoplesPartyAu #DavidMcBride #GerardRennick