WA Labor on defensive after ACCC backs electricity privatisation

Mark McGowan says he disagrees with competition watchdog that electricity bills will fall 51% if Western Power sold under Liberals

Western Australia Labor's aggressive campaign against the Barnett government's planned privatisation of Western Power is on shaky ground five days out from the election after the competition tsar said it would lead to lower prices.

The Labor leader, Mark McGowan, said he disagreed with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chairman, Rod Sims, who said electricity bills would fall if 51% of the poles and wires power utility was privatised under the Liberals.