The ‘Stashed Cash’ Select Committee today heard further evidence from the Auditor General on an unlawful $5 million loan from Minister Jay Weatherill’s former department (DAIS) to Minister John Hill’s former department (DWLBC). Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said the Auditor General today confirmed that Minister Hill had not advised the Auditor General as soon as…
An independent analysis of Treasury forecasts and budget papers has shown South Australia has the worst economic growth forecast of all mainland states. Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today that the Australian Financial Review (AFR) last week analysed all Mid Year Budget Reviews (MYBR) produced by State Treasuries and produced the following worrying assessment: Gross…
An increasingly arrogant Rann Government is now refusing to answer questions on the costs of consultants employed by departments and agencies. Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today that, for many years, Labor and Liberal governments have answered questions on consultancy costs during estimates committee hearings providing details on the name of each consultant, the cost,…
Minister Michael Wright must justify his reasons for spending $184 on his Ministerial credit card for a lunch for one in Melbourne, Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today. Documents released under Freedom of Information (attached) show Mr. Wright spent $184.60 on a lunch for one at the exclusive and very expensive Flower Drum Chinese restaurant…
For 18 hours in March last year Minister Michael Wright enjoyed an ‘excellent adventure’ of limousines and expensive restaurants in Sydney at taxpayer’s expense, Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today. Mr Lucas said that documents received under freedom of information relating to Minister Wright’s travel and entertainment expenses reveal: •After flying business class to Sydney…
Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas today called on Premier Rann to introduce new controls of accountability on Ministers spending on overseas and interstate travel and entertainment. Mr Lucas said as a first step Ministers should be required to provide details of total costs, purpose and results of each overseas and certain interstate trips on the government…
Latest figures show the Rann Government is going to collect an expected windfall of $572 million in extra revenue over the next four years, Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today. The Mid Year Budget Review (MYBR) released just before Christmas details the extraordinary windfall gains in just the three months since the September Budget. Total…
Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today that massive increases in land tax in recent years were a major reason for Adelaide’s current rental housing crisis. Over recent months the rental housing market in Adelaide has tightened considerably with official figures now showing rents soaring and vacancy rates the lowest since data collection commenced three years…
Commonwealth Government economic forecasts show a slowing of the nation’s economic growth at a time when South Australia’s economy has almost stopped. The Commonwealth Government today released its Mid Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) which showed that national economic growth this year will be 2.5 per cent down from the budget forecast of 3.25…
An increasingly arrogant Rann Government is snubbing its nose at Parliamentary accountability by refusing to answer hundreds of questions on notice in the Parliament. Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today that some of the questions had been unanswered for periods of up to four years and, to mark the occasion, Premier Rann would be receiving…