In a script worthy of the Yes Minister TV series, it has been revealed South Australia’s Treasury Department doesn’t have an economic forecasting unit. “It is bizarre and simply defies logical explanation that Premier Weatherill and Treasurer Koutsantonis could have decided South Australia’s Treasury should probably be the only Treasury in Australia not to have…
The State Budget is based on a range of absurdly optimistic revenue assumptions that will require South Australia to transform overnight from economic basketcase to economic powerhouse to be realised. “At the heart of the Treasurer’s dodgy figures is the assumption that South Australian tax revenue growth will rocket along at 6.2 per cent, the…
A senior State Government source has provided information that the Weatherill Government employed highly-paid consultants last year to consider privatising some SA Water assets said Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas. In evidence to the Budget and Finance Committee, Under Treasurer Brett Rowse refused to answer questions on the grounds the issue had gone to Cabinet and…
Treasurer Koutsantonis has been severely embarrassed by today’s revelation the Weatherill Government will be applying for money under the Federal Government’s 15 per cent asset recycling grant scheme. Evidence to the Budget and Finance Committee by Treasury head Brett Rowse confirmed the Government would be applying for the bonus after its decision to privatise the…
The record $1.2 billion deficit that the Weatherill Labor Government has delivered for this financial year is the Labor Government’s single most expensive broken promise. Mr Koutsantonis’ record breaking budget has just delivered the largest deficit in South Australia’s history at $1.2 billion and the biggest debt in SA’s history at $14.3 billion. “If the…
South Australians should be asking themselves what promises the Weatherill Labor Government will break in today’s Budget. “The Weatherill Labor Government has spent 12 years making and breaking promises and has shown that it cannot be trusted,” said Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas. “There is already serious doubt over one of the Weatherill Labor Government’s key…
The Weatherill Labor Government must ensure that safety is the top priority at the new Royal Adelaide Hospital construction site after the latest safety incident. Media outlets have reported that a crane has this morning dropped a load of steel at the new Royal Adelaide Hospital site – the latest incident at the site. “We…
Mr Koutsantonis and Mr Weatherill are hypocrites for arguing they have the right to demand the car park tax be passed in the budget debate, Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today. “Mr Koutsantonis has been trying to bully MPs into supporting the car park tax on the basis that MPs had to pass the State…
There is serious doubt over one of the Weatherill Labor Government’s key election promises being delivered in this week’s State Budget. The Weatherill Labor Government has promised to deliver a budget surplus in 2015/16 since the 2013 State Budget. This promise was reiterated in the Mid-Year Budget Review, January Budget Update and Labor’s election costings…
Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas today challenged Treasurer Koutsantonis to explain how introducing a new business tax such as the car park tax will help resolve South Australia’s dangerous jobs crisis. SA’s unemployment rate yesterday jumped to 6.8 per cent – the highest unemployment rate on the mainland. “Given South Australian businesses already suffer under the…