The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:40): I want to look at the record of Premier Rann, perhaps for the first and only time. As Premier Rann leaves parliament, a decision he has taken has united almost everyone in this parliament. Everyone cannot wait to get rid of him. That is perhaps unsurprising for members of the…
DetailsBUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (17:41): I move: That the report on the operations of the Budget and Finance Committee 2010-11 be noted. In speaking briefly to this report, I firstly thank the hardworking members of the Budget and Finance Committee, both current and past (over the 12 months we have had…
DetailsThe Hon. R.I. LUCAS (21:51): I rise to speak to the second reading of the bill. The Liberal Party’s position is that it will not be supporting the bill. I think it is fair to say that, as with some other issues, there is a broad church represented by our members, in particular, the Eyre…
DetailsThe Hon. R.I. LUCAS (17:52): I rise to speak to the second reading of the bill. As I listen to the contributions this afternoon, I am reminded that politics, indeed, makes for strange bedfellows. We have an ex-Labor minister in this council quoting a former Liberal Party chief of staff to a minister in support…
DetailsThe Labor Government’s printer cartridge scandal has spread to SA Health, department executives confirmed today. Chief Executive David Swan told the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee that excessive purchases of $161,781 had been identified at three SA Health locations. Mr Swan also confirmed that three staff had accepted gifts or benefits from the private…
DetailsIndustrial Relations Minister Russell Wortley has wrongly claimed there would be no change to scaffolding requirements under his controversial new work safety laws. This error by Mr Wortley partly explains why he wrongly claims cost increases under his work safety laws will be “insignificant or minimal”. The Housing Industry Association has estimated a single story…
DetailsA belated backflip by the Labor Government and the WorkCover Board to introduce competition into WorkCover claims management from 2013 is welcomed by the Liberal Opposition. Shadow Finance Minister Rob Lucas said the decision taken in 2006 to remove all competition from claims management and use a monopoly claims manager has been an unmitigated disaster.…
DetailsBoth Families and Communities Minister Jennifer Rankine and Department of Families and Communities CEO Joslene Mazel must accept responsibility for what is a dysfunctional department. Ms Mazel told the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee today that until last week the Minister was unaware that 11 staff in her department had been investigated for accessing…
DetailsThe Labor Government’s controversial new work safety laws will be a major early test for incoming Premier Jay Weatherill. Shadow Industrial Relations Minister Rob Lucas said if passed in its current form, the laws would be a further blow to the already struggling housing market. “New home sales fell 4.7 percent in August, and there…
DetailsThe Liberal Opposition will vote against the Labor Government’s Work, Health and Safety Bill unless significant amendments are made to the legislation. Shadow Industrial Relations Minister Rob Lucas said the Liberals are particularly concerned about a massive increase in union powers and how the bill would impact on the already struggling housing sector. “The Housing…
DetailsMany volunteers in volunteer organisations face massively increased risks of fines and penalties under the Labor Government’s new work safety laws, Shadow Industrial Relations Minister Rob Lucas said today. “Legal advice from Parliamentary Counsel has confirmed that if a volunteer organisation employs one person for three hours on a weekend, it will no longer be…
DetailsShadow Finance Minister Rob Lucas today welcomed the Government’s announcement that a Department of Premier and Cabinet staff member has been suspended over allegations relating to improper purchasing of printer cartridges, and that the matter had been referred to SAPOL and the Auditor-General. In yesterday’s Budget and Finance Committee meeting, the Liberal Opposition raised concerns…
DetailsMore than $1 million was spent on consultancies in the past two years by the Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation Division of the Department of Premier Cabinet, whilst money was not being made available to address critical problems on the ground in the APY Lands. The stunning revelation was made in yesterday’s Legislative Council Budget and…
DetailsSpending more than $68,000 on ‘Rann’s Farewell Party’ is an outrageous waste of taxpayers’ money, Shadow Finance Minister Rob Lucas said today. Department of Premier and Cabinet executives today provided this ‘estimate’ of the costs of the special events for October 20, which are supposedly for the opening of the new film studios at Glenside,…
DetailsThe Liberal Opposition today called for the Auditor-General to conduct an inquiry into the purchasing of printer cartridges by Labor Government departments and agencies. Shadow Finance Minister Rob Lucas said information provided to the Liberal Opposition indicated the Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation Division of the Department of Premier and Cabinet had purchased more than 200…
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