The State Liberals have described evidence presented to a Parliamentary Committee that the Weatherill Government forced SA Water to borrow $71 million to pay a $71 million extra dividends to the Weatherill Government as outrageous. “This meant the Weatherill Government ripped $193 million out of SA Water’s coffers even though their net profit for 2016/17 was only $134…
DetailsThe State Liberals have called on the Weatherill Government to publicly disclose all government advertising costs on a monthly basis ahead of the 2018 state election. “The Weatherill Labor Government’s political advertising has reached unprecedented levels, with taxpayers footing the bill for almost $10 million spent on political ads in the last 12 months alone,” said Shadow…
DetailsThe State Liberals are demanding that the South Australian Labor Party repay South Australian taxpayers the $757,500 gifted to One Community SA to run a blatant political campaign. The Auditor-General’s Report tabled in Parliament yesterday said that the One Community SA grant; “…included messages a reasonable person could interpret as being designed to influence support for a political party.” Report of…
DetailsShadow Treasurer Rob Lucas today accused the Weatherill Labor Government of being the most secretive Government in the State’s history. Premier Weatherill and his Ministers have fought for almost 12 months against the release of the names of all the staff employed in the Ministers’ office. Mr. Weatherill employs almost 300 staff in Ministers’ offices and over the years they have…
DetailsThe Hon. R.I. LUCAS (16:43): I rise on behalf of Liberal members to address this bill. Essentially, I will treat this as a cognate debate. There are two bills, the Constitution (One Vote One Value) Amendment Bill and an associated bill in relation to the establishment of a referendum. I will address the bulk of my…
DetailsThe Upper House of State Parliament last night voted to remove Labor’s State Bank Tax from the Budget Measures Bill and sent the amended Bill back to the House of Assembly minus the tax. “Put simply, the Liberal Party voted for payroll tax cuts and off the plan concessions, but against Labor’s State Bank Tax,” said Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas.…
DetailsThe Hon. R.I. LUCAS (11:14): I rise to continue my contribution on the Budget Measures Bill. At the outset, can I just indicate to the government and its advisers that when we last spoke, as has been my custom and practice, I placed on the record some advice from one of South Australia’s leading tax lawyers…
DetailsShadow Treasurer Rob Lucas has accused the Weatherill Government of another stunning example of financial mismanagement and incompetence which will cost taxpayers $6.75 million this year and in future years $3.7 million per year. In 2012 the parliament passed government legislation which made it clear superannuation would not be paid on state parental leave payments which the government stated was…
DetailsThe State Liberals have today reaffirmed their commitment to oppose any GST reforms that would disadvantage South Australia. “The State Liberals will absolutely not support any GST reforms that disadvantages South Australians,” said Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas. “We have consistently held and stated this position at every opportunity in the GST reform conversation. “The draft Productivity Commission Report released today has…
DetailsIn another blow to the Weatherill Government’s plans to introduce a state bank tax the newly elected Labor Government in Western Australia has ruled out imposing a similar tax in that state. Western Australia Treasurer Ben Wyatt: ‘… you don’t rush into new revenue measures without having an understanding of the broader economic consequences. I will continue to watch South Australia,…
DetailsThe Hon. R.I. LUCAS (16:36): I move: That this council notes with concern the actions taken by Labor MPs and statements made by Labor MPs both inside and outside the parliament. The motion that I have moved this afternoon has been brought on by the arrogance and hypocrisy that I and other members have witnessed from Labor…
DetailsShadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today that FOI applications had confirmed there had been two claims of bullying made in workers compensation claims by former staff of Michael Atkinson MP. The Weatherill Government must now come clean and reveal what the total cost to taxpayers has been for the settlement of these bullying claims against Mr Atkinson. Treasury replies to two…
DetailsShadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today Jay Weatherill’s obscene taxpayer funded pre-election advertising splurge was now more than $4 million and likely to grow further over the coming months. The following costs to taxpayers have now been revealed: • Jay Weatherill’s Energy Plan: $2.6 million • Job Accelerator Grant Scheme: $1 million plus • New Royal Adelaide Hospital:…
DetailsDocuments obtained by the Opposition under Freedom of Information have revealed some outrageous costs incurred by the Weatherill Government’s Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission Consultation and Response Agency (CARA). The documents show the CARA budget blew out by $400,000 to $7.6 million, with key highlights including; The documents show the CARA budget blew out by $400,000 to $7.6…
DetailsPremier Jay Weatherill needs to explain to South Australian taxpayers why his former Department of Premier and Cabinet CEO, Mr Kym Winter-Dewhirst, received an estimated $137,500 payment when he chose to resign. In yesterday’s Budget Estimates it was revealed that Mr Winter-Dewhirst was given a payment amounting to a quarter of his $550,000 a year…
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