Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today documents released under FOI reveal that the Weatherill Government paid National Geographic Channel $800,000 before the election to be ‘selected’ as one of the ‘smart cities’ in the world. On 26 June 2013 Mr Weatherill told Parliament: “This has been a real coup for South Australia, to be selected…
DetailsFollowing yesterday’s announcement from BHP Billiton that it will be cutting 380 jobs in South Australia, the Weatherill Labor Government must bring forward job creation policies now. “It’s time for the Weatherill Labor Government to concede that whatever they have been doing for 13 long years just hasn’t worked. It is time for a change…
DetailsThe State Liberals are calling on the Weatherill Labor Government to adopt its Community Infrastructure Fund policy to support local government infrastructure projects and protect South Australians from council rate rises. At the 2014 State Election, the State Liberals proposed establishing a Community Infrastructure Fund, which had the potential to unlock up to $500 million…
DetailsShadow Treasurer Rob Lucas has claimed evidence from the Chairman of ESCOSA Dr Pat Walsh to State Parliament’s Budget and Finance Committee directly contradicts key claims on water pricing made by Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis. Mr Koutsantonis has for many months been rejecting claims made by former ESCOSA CEO Paul Kerin and former Commissioner Professor Richard…
DetailsSouth Australia has retained its unenviable position as having the highest unemployment rate in the nation, according to the latest ABS data released today. SA recorded an unemployment rate of 7.9 per cent last month. The unemployment rate for 15-24 year olds also increased last month to 15.6 per cent. “It is concerning for future…
DetailsThe latest building approval data from the Australian Bureau Statistics shows a sustained decline in the number of dwellings approved in South Australia in the last 12 months. During the last 12 months the total number of houses approved fell by a dangerous 9.6 per cent. “The fact South Australians are building fewer homes is…
DetailsShadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said Mr Weatherill’s new CEO Kym Winter-Dewhirst had been given an extra $35,000 per year for a private motor vehicle lease as well as an extra two weeks’ paid leave for professional development. “These secret benefits were not revealed in Mr Winter-Dewhirst’s contract and are in addition to the $125,000 per…
DetailsFurther examination of Minister Bignell’s travel claims have left more questions than answers for South Australian taxpayers. It’s time for Minister Bignell to explain: 1. Why does he need to claim for 1 night’s accommodation ($145) in the IBIS Hotel in Grenfell Street when he lives in Adelaide and has access to a car/driver and…
DetailsPremier Jay Weatherill’s admission that he wants to increase the GST tax burden in South Australia by up to an additional $2 billion a year is a chilling warning for all taxpayers. This morning on 5AA Premier Weatherill argued for a 50 per cent increase in the rate of the GST without a corresponding reduction…
DetailsSouth Australia has been ranked 7th out of 8 according to CommSec’s assessment of the state of the states overall economic performance in the July 2015 quarter. South Australia ranked last on unemployment and construction work, with CommSec noting that: “There is little to separate the South Australian and Tasmanian economies in the performance rankings.”…
DetailsSouth Australia has experienced a huge drop in the level of commercial building activity in the March 2015 quarter, according to the latest ABS data released yesterday. The value of non-residential building activity dropped by 21.5 per cent in the March quarter. The value also dropped over the last 12 months, compared to the previous…
DetailsThe State Liberals are calling on the Health Minister Jack Snelling to guarantee that all beds in the new Royal Adelaide Hospital will be available for patient care from the first day that the new facility opens. The Advertiser report based on a Medical Staff Society document raises further very serious questions regarding the operation…
DetailsThe State Liberals have reiterated their call for an independent inquiry into allegations of tampering with patient medical records at the Lyell McEwin hospital. “The appointment of the Chief Medical Officer Paddy Phillips does not satisfy the need for an independent investigation of the altering of a patient record,” said Liberal MLC Rob Lucas. “With…
DetailsThe State Liberals are demanding a full independent inquiry into allegations of tampering with patient medical records at the Lyell McEwin hospital. This morning on ABC 891 radio Dr Paul Newbold, a radiologist at the Lyell McEwin, claimed a file note he had put on a patient’s medical record was tampered with: Dr Newbold: but…
DetailsPremier Jay Weatherill’s abject admission that after 13 years of a Labor Government unemployment in South Australia is going to get worse before it gets better is a damning indictment of his Government’s performance. “Jay Weatherill has thrown in the towel when it comes to fighting unemployment in South Australia,” said Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas.…
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