NSW Opposition leader Michael Daley has promised business leaders he will not lead a chaotic government as premier in an election pitch centred on "fairness and certainty".
Mr Daley told a Committee for Economic Development of Australia forum on Friday that the last eight years had been a period of "squandered opportunity" and criticised the government's spending priorities.
The Labor leader singled out the NSW government's handling of the delayed Sydney CBD light rail.
"If you treated your shareholders' money like that there would be a royal commission," Mr Daley told the Shangri-La Hotel ballroom, packed with business leaders.
Mr Daley criticised the Baird/Berejiklian government's privatisation of $80 billion worth of public assets, including "that beautiful big electricity company" Ausgrid.
He reiterated the opposition's promise to stop any further privatisation of state assets, including the water utility.
Mr Daley said while the coal industry had "many years" ahead of it, he added investment in coal-fired power stations was all-but finished.
"It is highly unlikely indeed that anyone will invest in new coal-fired power stations in NSW in the foreseeable future," Mr Daley said.
Instead, the Labor leader said his government would invest in renewable energy if elected, which would stoke private interest.
"Industry will invest. You know industry will invest in leadership and certainty," he said.
Australian Associated Press
