Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas is calling on Treasurer Foley to come out of hiding to answer questions from South Australians angry at further broken promises by Mr Rann and Mr Foley.
This follows the revelation the Rann Government will cut nearly 400 public service jobs by offering separation packages.
“Ever since news of another broken promise was revealed yesterday afternoon Treasurer Foley has gone into hiding and refused to answer media questions from The Advertiser last night and from television and radio journalists today,” Mr Lucas said today.
“Instead, an obviously embarrassed Jay Weatherill, the Minister Assisting the Premier in Cabinet Business and Public Sector Management, has been pushed out the door to try to justify the Rann Government’s broken election promise.
“So far, Mr Weatherill has made a real mess of it by stating there had been hundreds of public servants sitting around doing virtually nothing for years.
“There are 400 people here that don’t have proper jobs that have been basically rattling around the Public Service, in many cases for a number of years. Are we to just let that roll along?”
Jay Weatherill, 5AA, 25 May 2006
“The hapless Mr Weatherill hasn’t been able to answer the obvious question of why the Government hadn’t acted years earlier if that was the case.
“Mr Weatherill also hasn’t been able to explain why the following promise made by Mr Foley had been broken:
Foley: “… That is 400 police, 100 teachers, 44 new medical specialists.”
Abraham: “And you won’t fund those by getting rid of other jobs?”
Foley: “No…”
ABC Radio, 16 March 2006
“Sadly, this is just another example of an arrogant government treating the South Australian public with contempt.
“Mr Rann is again overseas and Mr Foley is hiding under his desk.
“Clearly they both believe they can break whatever election promises they want to and that the South Australian public will have forgotten by the time of the next election.”
