Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today it was highly embarrassing for Premier Weatherill and Treasurer Koutsantonis that the key agency for modelling good public service practice had blown its budget by $2 million this year.
Commissioner for Public Sector Employment Erma Ranieri told the Budget and Finance Committee she had advised Treasury earlier this year there was a $2 million budget blowout in her agency this year.
“Ms Ranieri confirmed the total budget for her agency was only $9 million, so a $2 million blowout in spending is an extraordinary result,” said Mr Lucas.
“Ms Ranieri as Commissioner for Public Sector Employment is also head of the new Office for the Public Sector which Mr Weatherill established last year by merging three separate public sector units.
“Public sector whistleblowers have complained bitterly that hundreds of thousands of dollars are being wasted on expensive consultancies and pet projects which have provided little real value for taxpayers.
“This is especially embarrassing for the Weatherill Government at a time when they are closing the Repat Hospital and cutting Emergency Department services.
“This is the agency which helps set standards for the whole public service and proudly proclaims on its website:
“We help public sector employees and organisations deliver the best outcomes for South Australia. We set professional standards for the public sector encouraging excellence and innovation in service to the community.”
“The clear message to Mr Weatherill and Mr Koutsantonis is rather than forever massively increasing taxes and charges like the ESL they should simply insist their departments and agencies don’t continuously blow out their budgets.”