The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (17:01): I rise to support the second reading of the bill and indicate, as the Hon. Mr Hood has indicated, that we are in the process of drafting amendments to the bill which we will seek to discuss during the committee stages of the debate. I intend to, at least, briefly…
DetailsThe Labor Government must explain why it paid Adelaide Aqua millions of dollars extra in a failed attempt to meet a construction deadline for the Lonsdale desalination plant, Shadow Finance Minister Rob Lucas said today. In evidence to a Parliamentary Select Committee yesterday, Adelaide Aqua executives refused to reveal the exact level of the payment…
DetailsThe Rann Government is about to backflip on a key public sector reform and savings measure announced in the last State Budget, Shadow Finance Minister Rob Lucas said today. “In the last State Budget the Government announced the abolition of the separate and independent position of Commissioner of Public Employment,” Mr Lucas said. “The Government’s…
DetailsAfter a 16 month battle the State Ombudsman has directed the Rann Government to release documents relating to Labor’s fundraising vehicle SA Progressive Business (SAPB), Shadow Finance Minister Rob Lucas said today. “The original FOI application was actually lodged in October 2009, five months before the state election,” Mr Lucas said. “However, it wasn’t until…
DetailsPremier Rann should cut waste in his own department before cutting funding to country hospitals and eating disorder units, Shadow Finance Minister Rob Lucas said today. Evidence to the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee by the Department of Premier and Cabinet Chief Executive Officer Chris Eccles highlighted numerous examples where savings could be made:…
DetailsThe Rann Government has wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars paying a consultant to fix a massive bungle over workers’ compensation payments in SAPOL, Shadow Finance Minister Rob Lucas said today. “In evidence to the Legislative Council’s Budget and Finance Committee, SAPOL’s Business Service Director Denis Patriarca revealed hundreds of officers had been underpaid workers’…
DetailsThe Rann Government has refused to answer key questions about the claimed independent review of the 2008 WorkCover Act changes, Shadow Industrial Relations Minister Rob Lucas said today. “In January this year the Rann Government announced Bill Cossey and Chris Latham, a senior partner in the Sydney office of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC), would conduct the review,”…
DetailsThe Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:27): During question time, I outlined serious allegations in relation to a number of Kaurna related organisations, and the bottom line is that, after a long period of time, it appears that OCBA, having been asked to investigate these allegations, has done nothing. I hope that we have not seen an…
DetailsThe Hon. R.I. LUCAS (14:46): I seek leave to make a brief explanation prior to directing a question to the Minister for Consumer Affairs on the subject of OCBA. Leave granted. The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: On 28 July 2009, Ms Heather Agius, Treasurer of the Kaurna Heritage Board Inc. and the Director of Kaurna Cultural…
DetailsThe Rann Government is deliberately concealing the real cost of ministerial offices by not including in budget documents millions of dollars being spent on extra staff and resources, Shadow Finance Minister Rob Lucas said today. “Budget documents this year claim the total cost of the 15 ministerial offices was $29.9 million and that there were…
DetailsThe issue of shop trading hours has highlighted further divisions within the Labor Government, Shadow Industrial Relations Minister Rob Lucas said today. The Government recently announced a decision to extend trading hours in the CBD this coming Sunday to cater for tourists visiting South Australia on cruise ships Queen Mary II and Amadea However, prominent…
DetailsPremier Rann’s promise of an extra $4 million for our critical food and wine industries has been revealed as just another example of Rann Spin, Shadow Finance Minister Rob Lucas said today. Mr Rann has been boasting about keeping his election promise of additional support of $1 million per year for four years for the…
DetailsThe war between former Treasurer Foley and Minister Weatherill on public servants cashing out long service has flared again with today’s revelation an ‘Under Treasurer’s Instruction’ had been issued to all CEOs last year, Shadow Finance Minister Rob Lucas said. In evidence to the Budget and Finance Committee today senior PIRSA executives confirmed the Under…
DetailsNew Industrial Relations Minister Bernie Finnigan is a “lazy, insensitive log” for not having read a critical 40 page Corner’s report into a tragic workplace death, Shadow Industrial Relations Minister Rob Lucas said today. “It is unbelievable and unacceptable that 30 hours after the Coroner released his damning report, the Minister responsible for SafeWork SA…
DetailsPremier Rann must clarify why he allowed a consultant with contracts with the Rann Government worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to remain in the extremely sensitive and important position of Clerk of the Executive Council, Shadow Finance Minister Rob Lucas said today. This week’s Government Gazette advises that on 20 January 2011 the Governor,…
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