The Liberal Party will today move to establish a powerful new Legislative Council Committee to monitor all budget related issues when Parliament resumes next month. Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said this new Budget Monitoring Committee will be modelled (albeit with some important differences) on the powerful Senate Estimates Committees which, for many years, has provided…
DetailsA rental crisis in South Australia is looming with some rental increases of up to 20 per cent likely with vacancy rates approaching zero. Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today that evidence presented by the Real Estate Institute (REI) to the Legislative Select Committee on Property Taxes painted a bleak picture of the rental market…
DetailsThe ‘Stashed Cash’ Select Committee today heard further evidence from the Auditor General on an unlawful $5 million loan from Minister Jay Weatherill’s former department (DAIS) to Minister John Hill’s former department (DWLBC). Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said the Auditor General today confirmed that Minister Hill had not advised the Auditor General as soon as…
DetailsAn independent analysis of Treasury forecasts and budget papers has shown South Australia has the worst economic growth forecast of all mainland states. Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today that the Australian Financial Review (AFR) last week analysed all Mid Year Budget Reviews (MYBR) produced by State Treasuries and produced the following worrying assessment: Gross…
DetailsAn increasingly arrogant Rann Government is now refusing to answer questions on the costs of consultants employed by departments and agencies. Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today that, for many years, Labor and Liberal governments have answered questions on consultancy costs during estimates committee hearings providing details on the name of each consultant, the cost,…
DetailsMinister Michael Wright must justify his reasons for spending $184 on his Ministerial credit card for a lunch for one in Melbourne, Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today. Documents released under Freedom of Information (attached) show Mr. Wright spent $184.60 on a lunch for one at the exclusive and very expensive Flower Drum Chinese restaurant…
DetailsFor 18 hours in March last year Minister Michael Wright enjoyed an ‘excellent adventure’ of limousines and expensive restaurants in Sydney at taxpayer’s expense, Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today. Mr Lucas said that documents received under freedom of information relating to Minister Wright’s travel and entertainment expenses reveal: •After flying business class to Sydney…
DetailsShadow Treasurer Rob Lucas today called on Premier Rann to introduce new controls of accountability on Ministers spending on overseas and interstate travel and entertainment. Mr Lucas said as a first step Ministers should be required to provide details of total costs, purpose and results of each overseas and certain interstate trips on the government…
DetailsLatest figures show the Rann Government is going to collect an expected windfall of $572 million in extra revenue over the next four years, Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today. The Mid Year Budget Review (MYBR) released just before Christmas details the extraordinary windfall gains in just the three months since the September Budget. Total…
DetailsShadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today that massive increases in land tax in recent years were a major reason for Adelaide’s current rental housing crisis. Over recent months the rental housing market in Adelaide has tightened considerably with official figures now showing rents soaring and vacancy rates the lowest since data collection commenced three years…
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