130 staff at 80 Health Department sites had been implicated in receiving at least $90,000 in gifts or benefits from food supply companies in exchange for purchases, evidence to the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee confirmed today. Health Department Chief Executive David Swan also told the Committee that 30 staff had been identified as…
DetailsDepartment of Education CEO Keith Bartley today indicated that 70 schools had been implicated in the ‘Cartridgegate’ scandal. In evidence to the Legislative Council’s Budget and Finance committee Mr Bartley confirmed some officers have been paying up to three times the normal rate for printer cartridges in exchange for gifts and benefits. Mr Bartley said…
DetailsUnder Treasurer Brett Rowse has confirmed that water prices will increase by about 200 per cent in the period 2008 – 2013 to pay for the desalination plant and other water projects. Mr Rowse told the Adelaide Desalination Plant Select Committee that after an average 26.3 per cent increase this year and a similar increase…
DetailsFinance Minister O’Brien must publicly explain why he tried to keep secret the extent of Treasury officers’ involvement in ‘Cartridge-gate following Under Treasurer Brett Rowse’s damning evidence to the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee. Mr Rowse confirmed eight Treasury officers had been identified as buying printer cartridges (some at inflated prices) from suspect companies…
DetailsA damning report of the impact of Labor’s controversial work, health and safety laws commissioned by the Victorian Government is a serious warning to South Australian small businesses that the Weatherill Government must not ignore. The PricewaterhouseCoopers report, released today, shows there will be a $3.44 billion cost over five years to Victorian businesses, with…
DetailsFinancial markets are already charging higher interest rates on government debt consistent with a loss of South Australia’s AAA credit rating, Under Treasurer Brett Rowse confirmed today. Mr Rowse told the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee that, since late last year, financial markets had made decisions on the assumption South Australia’s AAA rating would…
DetailsShadow Industrial Relations Minister Rob Lucas today condemned Industrial Relations Minister Russell Wortley for refusing to reveal how much a prominent unionist employed in his office was being paid. In February this year Mr Wortley employed Jimmy Watson, a high profile union organiser in the LHMU, as an industrial relations adviser in his office. “Taxypayers…
DetailsThe Weatherill Labor Government has been embarrassed by a State Ombudsman decision demanding details of payments to a senior adviser be released. The Liberal Party submitted a Freedom of Information application in November last year relating to any taxpayer-funded payout of leave and other entitlements for Premier Weatherill’s Senior Adviser (and former Chief of Staff…
DetailsShadow Finance Minister Rob Lucas today called on the Weatherill Government to clarify whether matters relating to the ‘Cartridgegate’ scandal were referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions. The call follows what appears to be contradictory evidence from DPP Stephen Pallaras and Police Commissioner Mal Hyde about widespread abuse relating to the purchases of printer…
DetailsDeputy Premier Rau’s promise today to remove 800 poker machines was first made eight years ago, Shadow Gambling Minister Rob Lucas said today. In February 2004 former Premier Rann introduced legislation to Parliament and promised he would remove 3000 machines, reducing numbers from 15,000 to 12,000: “Premier Rann is today taking the challenge up to…
DetailsThe Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:32): I rise to speak to the second reading of the bill on behalf of Liberal members in this chamber. First, in relation to this particular debate and all that has gone around it, I indicate that it will demonstrate the enormous power of the shoppies union and its operatives here…
DetailsAnother blowout – this time $222 million – has taken WorkCover’s unfunded liability back over $1 billion. The latest actuarial figures to 31 December last year show the unfunded liability has exploded from $952 million to $1174 million in just six months. The unfunded liability was just $55 million in June 2001. The following table…
Details“Today’s Weatherill Labor Government deal with independents that will deliver permanent public holiday trading to Adelaide’s CBD is a bad one for the majority of the State,” Liberal Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations Rob Lucas said. “This deal means new part-public holidays will be created between 7pm and midnight on Christmas Eve and New Year’s…
DetailsPremier Weatherill’s secret appointment of his own ‘internal consultant’ is wasting another $160,000 per year of taxpayers’ money. Commissioner for Public Sector Employment Warren McCann told the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee he had been appointed last October by Premier Weatherill as his own ‘internal consultant’. Mr McCann confirmed his total remuneration package is…
DetailsThe Labor Government’s ‘Cartridgegate’ report has only revealed the ‘tip of the iceberg’ of widespread abuse relating to the purchases of printer cartridges and other products. “The Weatherill Labor Government is obviously hoping that this whole issue will just disappear now that the report has been released,” Shadow Finance Minister Rob Lucas said. “However, a…
Details