Senior Rann Government Minister Paul Holloway yesterday misled Parliament by denying he had planned a trip to Europe supposedly for urban development purposes.
“The joke is clearly on Mr Holloway who has misled Parliament by denying he had planned a trip to Europe to look at urban design initiatives,” Shadow Minister for Finance Rob Lucas said today.
“The reality is Mr Rann in his recent travel report indicated that Professor Laura Lee would be assisting Mr Holloway with his “forthcoming” trip to Europe.” Mr Rann outlined without ambiguity that:
“I understand that Professor Laura Lee is also assisting the Hon Paul Holloway, the Minister for Urban Planning, in arrangements for his forthcoming visit to Europe to look at urban design initiatives.”
“When Mr Holloway was asked questions about the budget for the proposed overseas trip, who will be travelling with the Minister, and whether he would be meeting with Ms Lee whilst he is overseas, Mr Holloway denied any knowledge of the trip,” Mr Lucas said.
“I would have thought hypothetical questions are clearly out of order: to ask about a trip that I have not even gone on yet, that I haven't even planned or booked…”
“Either Mr Holloway has suffered from the same selective memory loss as Treasurer Kevin Foley or he has embarrassed himself by misleading Parliament.
“Mr Holloway further embarrassed himself by accusing some public servants of corruption and then outrageously suggested that my telephone should be tapped to tape any conversations with journalists.”
“Clearly, the honourable member has some public servant who is breaching the Public Sector Act in terms of supplying the honourable member with information. Perhaps we do need an ICAC, after all, for these corrupt public servants who are actually breaching the law and telling the honourable member. Perhaps the Hon Rob Lucas’s telephone should be one that you would tap all the time: you might pick up a few journalists he is talking to.”
“Mr Holloway’s bizarre and embarrassing rant shows he should not remain in Mr Rann’s Cabinet,” he said.
“After all, Mr Holloway’s “forthcoming visit to Europe” is seen by many of his Labor colleagues as a farewell jaunt as he makes way for Bernie Finnigan in the Rann Ministry.
“The people of South Australia can decide whether they trust Mr Holloway’s statements on these issues.”
