Prime Minister Tony Abbott visited Agfest to press the flesh and dominate local media coverage.

With the Coalition's standing nationally and locally looking precarious, every visit between now and the 2016 election will spark the same anticipation. When will the cheque book open?

In fact it already has. Mr Abbott recently gave Western Australia $500 million extra for roads, to compensate for the so-called raw deal the state gets in the GST distribution. At the same time Canberra is saying to the West - sell assets. If federal funding and other revenue is not enough look at what you need to own.

A previous election promise has resulted in Tasmania getting an extra $400 million for the Midland Highway. It won't result in a dual carriageway because the state has shied away from the promise, but $400 million in a small state like Tasmania is a far more significant windfall than what WA has just received.

On top of this federal Treasurer Joe Hockey has told the Tasmanian government that if it sold major assets, Canberra will chip in the equivalent of 15 per cent of the proceeds. That means, if we sold the energy assets for an estimated $4 billion we would get a reward worth a massive $600 million from Mr Hockey.

But, just like WA it won't happen.

Even if the economics underpinning an asset sale were compelling the state government wouldn't touch it with a barge pole because of the political risks.

Across Australia people are sentimental hoarders. They can't bear to be without their precious energy utilities and other major assets like transport infrastructure, because they're afraid of price hikes and other unknowns associated with private owners and operators.

Ironically those opposed to public asset sales are usually the first ones to complain about the level of public services on offer.