South Australia is set to benefit from an unbudgeted GST windfall of $857 million, announced in the Federal Budget. “The Federal Budget has confirmed an increase of $857m in unallocated or unbudgeted GST funding to SA over the next three years,” said Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas. “The simple reality is that next year the extra…
The State Liberals are calling on the Weatherill Labor Government to rule out introducing a tax on foreigners buying property in South Australia. The Victorian Labor Government will introduce a tax that will see foreign property buyers hit with a 3 per cent surcharge on stamp duty and a 0.5 per cent surcharge on land…
Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today Premier Weatherill and Treasurer Koutsantonis had been caught out deliberately concealing the real number of spin doctors and Ministerial staff in Ministerial offices. After an almost two year battle under FOI laws the Government was forced to release copies of “Confidential Ministers’ Directories” which list all staff in their…
Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said last week’s decision on GST allocations now meant South Australia would get an unbudgeted and unexpected $146 million GST funding windfall next year. “In fact total GST funding to South Australia next year will actually be $571 million more than this year but $425 million of that has already been…
The Weatherill Labor Government is running a part-time government with six Cabinet Ministers on leave at a time when South Australia needs strong leadership. The six Cabinet Ministers on leave at the moment are: • Gail Gago on leave from 16-24 April 2015 inclusive; • Leon Bignell on leave from 16 April – 2 May…
Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said the Liberal Party would welcome the opportunity of fighting the next State Election over the Weatherill Government’s proposal for a new $1200 tax on an average family home. Treasurer Koutsantonis continues to try and drum up support for his proposed annual $1200 tax on the family home and has told…
Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today the South Australian Liberals would not support any possible change to the GST distribution formula which would disadvantage South Australia financially. “We have regularly stated that position publicly and we do so again today,” said Mr Lucas. “The policy position that any change to the formula would only be…
Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today there needed to be tougher restrictions and controls on millions of dollars being spent by the Weatherill Government on contractors. Consolidated information over five years supplied by Treasury to the Budget and Finance Committee shows the Government spent more than $3 billion on contractors. Annual expenditure on contractors varied…
Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas today welcomed the fact the Auditor-General was conducting an inquiry into the Weatherill Government’s controversial advertising campaigns and would be presenting a special report to Parliament. In recent evidence to the Budget and Finance Committee the Auditor-General was asked whether Mr Weatherill’s $1.1 million anti Federal Government campaign featuring two pensioners…
The Weatherill Labor Government is still spending $2 million on public art at the NRAH whilst at the same time the budget has blown out by more than $600 million. This is yet another example of the waste and financial mismanagement of the Weatherill Government which has led to record deficits and debt. Evidence to…