호주의 Productivity Commission은 최근 보고서에서 주와 연방정부는 담수화를 포함한 사회기반 시설 매각을 촉구한다고 밝혔다.  위원회는 "사회이익은 정부의 지속적인 소유보다 정부의 판매조건 규제와 사회봉사활동 의무를 통해서 보호된다"고 말했다.

공공 및 민간 토론의 의장인 Infrastructure Partnerships Australia Brendan Lyon는 보고서가 민간 소유는 가격을 상승시킨다는 가정을 중단하게 한다고 설명했다.

Australia's Productivity Commission, in a recent report, has urged the country's state and federal governments to sell off a swathe of infrastructure assets including desalination plant.

The commission said the public interest could best be protected through government regulation along with sale conditions and community service obligations, rather than by continued government ownership.

Chief executive of public and private secretor forum, Infrastructure Partnerships Australia Brendan Lyon indicated the report scotched assumptions that private ownership would raise prices. He said the report "effectively dismisses unfounded claims about higher electricity prices from groups opposed to reform. This adds further weight to get the NSW poles and wires reformed and leased, unlocking $20 billion for new infrastructure."

[출처 = Desalination & Water Reuse / 2014년 7월 15일]