Premier Mike Baird is going to the March election with an enormous, albeit hypothetical, treasure chest. Electricity asset sales are in his sights and a one-off $20 billion cheque almost in his grasp.

A failure to roll out essential infrastructure has been the greatest drain on this state's potential, so getting the state moving is, rightly, the priority.

Sydney is chronically short of transport infrastructure. Credit:Wolter Peeters

With the federal government taking 82 per cent of Australia's tax revenue, asset sales are a last resort for state governments who need to fund infrastructure for transport, education and health.

Assets can't be sold twice, so the opportunity to spend this one-off $20 billion lump sum wisely won't come around again.