South Australia has the most restrictive retail trading hours in the nation, according to a Productivity Commission report released today. The report, Economic Structure and Performance of the Australian Retail Industry, is a damning indictment of the Labor Government’s misguided policy. Particularly noteworthy is evidence from Coles that in 2010 South Australia had 10 non-trading…
DetailsIn a stunning admission, Treasury has confirmed it couldn’t show Shared Services was delivering payroll services cheaper than previously. The Executive Director of Shared Services SA, Damian Bourke, told the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee this week: Hon Rob Lucas MLC: In relation to the payroll function, are either you or the Under Treasurer…
DetailsThe South Australian Labor Government is lurching from crisis to crisis, ranging from embarrassing court cases to crippling leadership crises. Labor’s four point Crisis Plan is as follows: An unnamed Labor MP will face court this month on charges of child pornography This week the person who allegedly assaulted Police Minister Kevin Foley…
DetailsThe Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:47): I rise to support the second reading of the Appropriation Bill. In doing so I went back and looked at the contributions of all members to last year’s Appropriation Bill debate to see what, if anything, had changed in the last less than 12 months. Sadly I think the conclusion…
DetailsEmbattled Local Government Minister Russell Wortley was ordered to undergo urgent media training last week, Shadow Finance Minister Rob Lucas revealed today. “Government ministers and spin doctors were so concerned at Mr Wortley’s bumbling performance over the Burnside inquiry they decided urgent remedial action needed to be taken,” Mr Lucas said. “Leaked information from Government…
DetailsThe Lotteries Commission spent more than $300,000 just over two years ago on a secret report which considered privatisation options and a valuation of the agency, Shadow Finance Minister Rob Lucas said today. “Industry sources have confirmed to the Liberal Party that as recently as 2008-09 the Lotteries Commission had commissioned ABN Amro (now RBS…
DetailsShadow Minister for Finance Rob Lucas said today SA Health executives had confirmed they had to implement annual savings of $396 million by 2014. SA Health CEO David Swan told the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee: Rob Lucas: “So in essence what you’re looking at is $396 million by the end of the forward…
DetailsA major brawl over the alignment of the proposed River Torrens Bridge is still unresolved, Shadow Finance Minister Rob Lucas said today. “Even though the Labor Government made a major announcement on the $350 million Convention Centre project last week, there was no announcement on the alignment of the bridge,” Mr Lucas said. “The original…
DetailsPremier Mike Rann’s promised 15 per cent cut in ministerial office budgets is yet another example of blatant political spin, Shadow Finance Minister Rob Lucas said today. Immediately after the budget, Mr Rann was in ‘full spin’ mode, claiming big cuts: Rann: “We’re actually I think taking a 15% hit on my budget in terms…
DetailsShadow Finance Minister Rob Lucas said today there had been a $68 million blowout in the implementation costs of the Shared Services Project and it was now an ‘unmitigated disaster’. In evidence to the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee Treasury officers Brett Rowse and Damian Bourke confirmed implementation costs were now $128 million and…
DetailsThe ‘fine print’ of Labor’s hospital PPP deal reveals massive financial exposure to taxpayers, Shadow Finance Minister Rob Lucas said today. In evidence to the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee, Under Treasurer Brett Rowse confirmed taxpayers were exposed to additional costs for interest rate movements and some contamination costs. Taxpayers will be responsible for…
DetailsThe Cossey Review into WorkCover is extremely disappointing and does not include any recommendations for action, Shadow Industrial Relations Minister Rob Lucas said today. “It appears that a lot of money has been spent with precious little to show for it,” Mr Lucas said. “The Labor Government should immediately reveal the total costs of this…
DetailsThe Liberal Party will support Labor Government moves to remove the ‘no forced redundancy’ arrangements in the South Australian public sector, Shadow Public Sector Management Minister Rob Lucas said today. “The Liberal Party accepts that forced redundancy provisions should be one of many options available for government to help manage an efficient and effective public…
DetailsThe Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:29): I want to talk about the Steven Bradbury of the Labor Party, the Hon. Russell Wortley, the last man standing, evidently about to become a minister. This man, the Hon. Mr Wortley, is a man of infinitely flexible principles and beliefs. He is now a member of the right, but…
DetailsThe Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:58): I rise to speak to the second reading of the bill. Obviously, this has been and, I am sure, will continue to be not only a controversial piece of legislation but a controversial project and issue for many years hence. Whilst the legislation is more than likely to pass in…
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