Industrial Relations Minister Russell Wortley has embarrassed himself by claiming hotel ‘drive-throughs’ were dangerous for drivers and staff. In May this year Minister Wortley responded to a statement by Australian Hotels’ Association President Peter Hurley that SafeWork SA staff had told him his drive-through bottle shop staff had to wear high-visibility vests at work. In…
DetailsThe Weatherill Labor Government is wasting millions of dollars on end of financial year spending binges by Ministers and Department Chief Executives, Shadow Finance Minister Rob Lucas said today. “Evidence provided to the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee shows some Departments are spending up to 54 per cent of their total capital works budget…
DetailsDepartment for Communities and Social Inclusion employees are still owed more than $2 million, 15 months after the Auditor-General identified the problem. Audit staff raised concerns in April 2011 about errors in rostered staff leave records. Departmental officers advised audit staff that errors had occurred ‘over many years’ in leave loading payments, which were estimated…
DetailsMinister Paul Caica must clarify statements made by DEWNR Chief Executive Allan Holmes on the ‘Cartridgegate’ scandal. “At this week’s Budget and Finance Committee meeting, Mr Holmes confirmed he told the media in March he had moved an officer out of Minister Caica’s office prior to allegations of ‘Cartridgegate’ abuses being raised in the Budget…
DetailsPremier Weatherill’s review into “Mad March” events has been a “rank amateurish” process which has insulted and angered a key stakeholder. “Mr Weatherill appointed his own “internal consultant” Warren McCann to conduct the review, which recommended moving the V8 race forward to February and the June public holiday to May for a rescheduled Adelaide Cup,”…
DetailsShadow Finance Minister Rob Lucas is calling for Minister Wortley to review urgently the tendering process which led to the Labor Government giving one company, Maxxia, a monopoly contract for salary sacrifice arrangements to all public servants. Earlier this month the Queensland Government revealed Remserv, one of two salary sacrifice providers in that state, had…
DetailsIndustrial Relations Minister Russell Wortley today refused to answer critical questions in Parliament by the Hon Rob Lucas MLC about the validity of charges laid against Ferro Con (SA) Pty Ltd. Ferro Con (SA) Pty Ltd was the crane company involved in an incident at the Adelaide Desalination Plant which led to the death of…
DetailsThe number of Ministerial staff and spin doctors in the Weatherill Government is far greater than the 107 published in this week’s Government Gazette, Shadow Finance Minister Rob Lucas said today. The true figure (including media monitoring staff) is 273, according to a leaked copy of the Government’s confidential Ministerial staff directory for December 2011.…
DetailsFormer Department of Premier and Cabinet Deputy Chief Executive Pauline Peel’s termination will cost taxpayers between $300,000 and $400,000. Evidence to the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee today revealed Ms Peel was entitled to a three or four month payout for early termination and then another three or four month payout for every unexpired…
DetailsMassive budget blowouts of $1.3 million at the Art Gallery and $410,000 at the South Australian Museum have been confirmed by Department of Premier and Cabinet executives. Evidence to the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee from Arts & Cultural Affairs Executive Director Alex Reid confirmed $1.7 million was provided to the institutions last month…
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