Revelations of public service job cuts expose Mr Rann and Mr Foley as stunning hypocrites who did not tell the truth prior to the election to ensure the Rann Government was re-elected, Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today.
“Just two months after the election it has now been revealed that the Rann Government will cut at least 300 public service jobs by offering separation packages,” Mr Lucas said today.
“Whilst the Rann Government has announced 300 job cuts, it is clear that many more will be cut over the next four years. Mr Rann’s and Mr Foley’s record of breaking promises makes it clear that they cannot be believed when they again promise the cuts will be limited to 300.
“All South Australians will remember the Rann Government attacked the Liberal Party’s policy during the election campaign to do exactly the same thing.
“However, Mr Rann and Mr Foley also made explicit promises not to fund extra police and teachers etc by cutting other public service jobs.
“One of many such commitments during the election campaign is highlighted by the following Foley answer on ABC Radio:
Abraham: “Okay but … will you offer any separation packages at all?”
Foley: “We at this point are looking at about 800 additional vital public servants in our promises to date. 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. We will demonstrate today … all of these spendings can be provided through appropriate efficiencies and savings within a budget. Matthew, I’ve brought down four budgets where I’ve had savings in every budget.”
Abraham: “You’ve said that.”
Foley: “And we haven’t had a separation from the public sector for two years.”
ABC Radio, 16 March 2006
“Every journalist who covered the election campaign will recall these claims by Mr Rann and Mr Foley that extra police etc would not be funded through cuts in other public sector jobs.
“It was a very popular promise made by Mr Rann and Mr Foley which they knew they would not keep.
“This revelation of another massive broken promise is another example of the Rann Government announcing bad news when Mr Rann is off overseas and unable to be questioned on his broken promises.
“The Rann Government’s budget is lurching from crisis to crisis on a daily basis with further revelations of election promises being broken every day.
“Mr Rann, can you spell hypocrite?”