Victorian Labor bid to amend constitution to keep state ownership of SEC may end up in high court, says expert

Daniel Andrews wants to enshrine State Electricity Commission in constitution if he wins Victorian election, but move could face future court challenge. Photograph: Ellen Smith/The Guardian

A promise by Victoria’s premier, Daniel Andrews, to amend the state’s constitution to protect public ownership of the revived State Electricity Commission could be the subject of a future high court challenge, a constitutional law expert says.

Andrews said on Tuesday a re-elected Labor government would introduce legislation to amend the constitution to ensure the SEC – which was privatised in the 1990s – could not be sold again.