The Labor Government has been forced into an embarrassing backflip over its latest WorkCover bill. Minister for Workers’ Rehabilitation Jack Snelling, who introduced the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation (Employer Payments) Amendment Bill 2011 on 28 September 2011, has advised Self Insurers of South Australia key provisions of the bill will now be removed and the…
The Labor Government’s financial management credibility has taken yet another blow with the revelation that WorkCover’s unfunded liability actually blew out by a staggering $87 million in the first six months of this year. According to WorkCover’s own figures, the unfunded liability at the end of 2010 was $865 million . The 2010-11 Auditor-General Report,…
The Labor Government must agree to a comprehensive independent inquiry of all government departments and agencies following the latest ‘Cartridgegate’ revelations. At least four government departments, involving eight staff and more than $400,000 in purchases of printer cartridges, have been identified. In most cases, if not all, staff received personal benefits for purchasing printer cartridges…
The Labor Government’s printer cartridge scandal has spread to SA Health, department executives confirmed today. Chief Executive David Swan told the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee that excessive purchases of $161,781 had been identified at three SA Health locations. Mr Swan also confirmed that three staff had accepted gifts or benefits from the private…
Industrial Relations Minister Russell Wortley has wrongly claimed there would be no change to scaffolding requirements under his controversial new work safety laws. This error by Mr Wortley partly explains why he wrongly claims cost increases under his work safety laws will be “insignificant or minimal”. The Housing Industry Association has estimated a single story…
A belated backflip by the Labor Government and the WorkCover Board to introduce competition into WorkCover claims management from 2013 is welcomed by the Liberal Opposition. Shadow Finance Minister Rob Lucas said the decision taken in 2006 to remove all competition from claims management and use a monopoly claims manager has been an unmitigated disaster.…
Both Families and Communities Minister Jennifer Rankine and Department of Families and Communities CEO Joslene Mazel must accept responsibility for what is a dysfunctional department. Ms Mazel told the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee today that until last week the Minister was unaware that 11 staff in her department had been investigated for accessing…
The Labor Government’s controversial new work safety laws will be a major early test for incoming Premier Jay Weatherill. Shadow Industrial Relations Minister Rob Lucas said if passed in its current form, the laws would be a further blow to the already struggling housing market. “New home sales fell 4.7 percent in August, and there…
The Liberal Opposition will vote against the Labor Government’s Work, Health and Safety Bill unless significant amendments are made to the legislation. Shadow Industrial Relations Minister Rob Lucas said the Liberals are particularly concerned about a massive increase in union powers and how the bill would impact on the already struggling housing sector. “The Housing…
Many volunteers in volunteer organisations face massively increased risks of fines and penalties under the Labor Government’s new work safety laws, Shadow Industrial Relations Minister Rob Lucas said today. “Legal advice from Parliamentary Counsel has confirmed that if a volunteer organisation employs one person for three hours on a weekend, it will no longer be…