Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas has written to the Auditor General asking him to investigate concerns that a Ministerial Adviser to Minister Leon Bignell had broken government rules in paying for some of his Ministerial expenses. During 2013 and 2014 Treasurer’s Instruction 13 makes it clear that Ministerial staff were not allowed to use Government issued…
DetailsMinister Bignell’s use of a chauffeur car service to take him to the AFL Grand Final instead of walking 1.4 kilometres is another example of an outrageous waste of taxpayers’ money, Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today. “Similarly, taxpayers will be furious at Mr Bignell on another Melbourne trip spending $255 on chauffeured cars to…
DetailsPremier Weatherill and his Government stand condemned for taking more than two years to deliver critically needed child protection staff. In a media release on 11 June 2013, Minister Rankine promised a big boost in child protection staff: “More than 360 full time staff will join Families SA to help, care, protect and look after…
DetailsThe Federal Department of Employment yesterday released its five year employment forecast which reveals that South Australia has the lowest employment growth forecast in Australia. The Report predicts that South Australia will only add 53,800 jobs between November 2014 and November 2019. This compares to New South Wales creating 358,800 jobs, Victoria creating 308,700 jobs…
DetailsShadow 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…
Details