In a massive turnaround from the message of the past two years – that the government would never cede control of the poles and wires section of the state's network – Treasurer Tim Nicholls announced on Wednesday the government was now considering offering a long term lease to the private market instead.
If that option moves forward, the state would hand over its control of the poles and wires for the term of the lease, which Mr Nicholls anticipated would be either 50 or 99 years.
