Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas has accused the Weatherill Government of another stunning example of financial mismanagement and incompetence which will cost taxpayers $6.75 million this year and in future years $3.7 million per year.
In 2012 the parliament passed government legislation which made it clear superannuation would not be paid on state parental leave payments which the government stated was required by Commonwealth legislation and was not opposed by unions.
“It’s unbelievable that the Weatherill Government ignored its own legislation and continued to pay superannuation on parental leave payments,” said Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas.
“The Government is now blaming public servants for an ‘administrative error’ and lack of communication between Super SA, Shared Services SA and other departments.
“When the ‘error’ was discovered the government faced the situation of having to recover overpayments of superannuation to over 4000 public servants.
“This is typical behaviour for this government to point the finger solely at public servants rather than Ministers also accepting their share of the responsibility and blame for the fiasco.”
Early last year the government introduced legislation to rescind the 2012 legislation which has been delayed in the Legislative Council for 18 months since March 2016 after Liberal questions about the total cost and how the debacle had occurred.
Finally last month (under cover of the Crows grand final bid) the government resumed debate and acknowledged:
• Back payments of $6.75m this year to 3,800 employees
• Overpayments to 4,062 employees would not be recovered
• Estimated additional annual budget costs of $3.7m
“The Weatherill Government has also advised that any employees who have left the public service in recent years will be ‘notified of monies owing to them and will be asked to nominate a superannuation fund into which payment will be made,’” said Mr Lucas.
“This is yet another example of this Labor Government’s financial mismanagement and incompetence and Mr Weatherill and Mr Koutsantonis must accept responsibility for this debacle.
“After 16 long years of Labor Government the taxpayers of South Australia deserve better.”