Treasurer Kevin Foley has today been accused of gross hypocrisy when it was revealed he had paid almost $50,000 to a company he had unfairly criticised as doing “shoddy work” for the Liberal Party before the election. “Under Treasurer Jim Wright has provided evidence to the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee that Mr Foley…
DetailsPremier Mike Rann’s promised 15 per cent cut in Ministerial Office budgets is an illusion and yet another example of “Rann Spin”. “In fact, the Budget documents show Ministerial Office budgets actually increase by $1.2 million this year compared to last year,” Shadow Minister for Finance Rob Lucas said today. “The Budget papers claim that…
DetailsAfter a 30 month battle, Treasurer Kevin Foley had been forced to release details of payments made to consultant Bruce Carter and his company. “For 30 months, Mr Foley and Mr Rann have refused to answer questions on notice in Parliament about total payments made by the Government to Mr Carter and his company,” Shadow…
DetailsThe USB Budget leak earlier in the week has revealed confidential information the Budget Papers claimed should not and would not be revealed. “Budget Papers revealed the Rann Government was going to privatise or sell all metropolitan hospital car parks and Medvet laboratories,” Shadow Minister for Finance Rob Lucas said today. “Budget Paper 6 (pp…
DetailsThe Hon. R.I. LUCAS (17:39): I rise to speak to the second reading of the Constitution (Government Advertising) Amendment Bill. On a previous occasion—I cannot recall exactly when—I, together with some other members of the upper house select committee on this issue, spoke about and addressed our various views on government advertising. I refer those…
DetailsEvidence to the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee had confirmed the total cost of the Adelaide Oval project had blown out to at least $655 million. Rod Hook, deputy CEO of the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure, confirmed that the following four projects were all not included in the current $535 million estimate…
DetailsThere must be a review of the processes being used by the Rann Government in offering targeted voluntary separation packages to public servants. Evidence given by the Education Department’s CEO, Chris Robinson, to the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee has raised a number of serious concerns including complaints from staff that improper and unacceptable…
DetailsThe Education Department’s CEO, Chris Robinson, had refused to answer questions from a Parliamentary Committee about Budget cuts recommended by the Rann Government’s Sustainable Budget Commission. “This was despite the Under Treasurer and the Health Department CEO both recently answering similar questions for their departments,” Shadow Minister for Finance Rob Lucas said today. “The Health…
DetailsShadow finance Minister Rob Lucas said today the CEO of SA Health, Dr Tony Sherbon, confirmed SA Health had over spent by $210 million last year and the Sustainable Budget Commission (SBC) had told it to prepare annual budget cuts of $360 million per year. It is clear that Treasurer Foley has lost control of…
DetailsShadow Minister for Finance Rob Lucas said today the head of Treasury, Jim Wright, had advised Treasurer Kevin Foley in May 2010 that ‘there was a significant risk that actual costs will be higher than the estimates.’ Mr Wright was giving evidence to the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee and a minute from Mr…
DetailsIt may be 12 months before a decision is made on the future of the Adelaide Oval upgrade. Appearing before the Parliament Budget and Finance Committee today, Mr Ian McLachlan, Chairman of the Stadium Management Authority (SMA), confirmed that at best there would only be a conditional agreement for the Adelaide Oval project by 31…
DetailsThe Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:59): I move: That this council notes— 1.statements made by the Treasurer and Premier before the election about the state of the budget; and 2.with concern recent information about the state of the budget and the Rann government’s management of the state’s finances. In speaking to this motion, I note that…
DetailsEvidence given to the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee confirmed that almost everyone associated with the Adelaide Oval seemed to know about a cost blowout before the March election. “However, if you believe Mr Foley’s story, then either people didn’t tell him or if they did he quickly forgot what they told him,” Shadow…
DetailsEvidence given to the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee had revealed the Rann Government was trying to hide some of the Adelaide Oval blowout costs in other Budget lines. Government witnesses today confirmed that the following parts of the Adelaide Oval project were not included in the $535 million latest estimates for the project:…
DetailsMarket research of 1500 injured workers had given another massive “thumbs down” for the performance of WorkCover and its claims manager, Employers Mutual Limited. “Research conducted by McGregor Tan Research for the WorkCover Board has shown a further significant reduction in performance satisfaction levels,” Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations Rob Lucas said today. “The trend…
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