The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (16:51): I have to say that that is probably the limpest and lamest defence of a minister of the Crown that I have ever heard, but I am not surprised, coming from the Hon. Mr Finnigan. He probably had a good hard look at the evidence, which was quite damning in…
The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (16:04): I move: That the report on the operations of the committee, 2008-09, be noted. In moving this motion, I intend to speak relatively briefly. At the outset, I thank the members of the committee for what has been a rigorous work program over the past 12 months, and I thank…
The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:30): The past two weeks in South Australian politics have been dominated by the events surrounding Premier Mike Rann and his alleged assault two weeks ago. My experience with these types of issues in the past is that generally it is not the issue itself that causes the most grief: it…
The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (16:11): When the Premier returned recently from his 23rd overseas trip he lodged FOI applications for the water contract of the former government and the contracts in relation to the electricity privatisation as well and indicated that from his viewpoint privatisation would be a major issue at the next election. I…
The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:43): I refer to a story in this morning’s newspaper that was headed ‘Tweets make twit of Rann’, a story by Michael Owen. Members will be aware that Mr Rann tells everyone, and prides himself on the fact, that he personally handles his Twitter account—and that is important in terms of…
The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:30): I want to talk about a major factional brawl within the Labor Party at the moment in relation to the Legislative Council preselection. Mr President, as you would well know, based on seniority the four sitting members would be endorsed: minister Holloway, if he goes on (although he will be…
The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (16:10): I rise to support the second reading of the Supply Bill. As I see it, the background to this debate features some of the comments made by the Hon. Mr Lawson in relation to South Australia’s credit rating, what I will refer to as the AAA credit rating debate. As…
The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:34): On 24 September last, I spoke on what I said was the pervasive influence and arrogance of the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association within the Labor Party and the Rann government. On that occasion I said: We can see the tentacles of the SDAEA everywhere in terms of the…
The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:29): Before turning to what I was principally going to speak about, the Hon. Mr Finnigan refers to accuracy in statements made by members. I would remind the member to have a look at the humiliating, red-faced U-turn delivered in the other place yesterday by the Treasurer in relation to the…
The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (16:45): I move: That this council notes with concern recent appointments and actions by the Rann Labor government and other related matters. In recent years, I have given a number of speeches in this place on the issue of Rann government appointments, in particular, concentrating on Rann appointments to boards and…