Premier 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…
DetailsShadow Finance Minister Rob Lucas today accused the Labor Government of massive waste of taxpayer money by continuing to fund a ‘ghost ministerial office’. Mr Lucas said even though former Minister Bernard Finnigan resigned two months ago, the Labor Government has continued to waste money on a fully operational Ministerial office – even though there…
DetailsThe Labor Government’s much vaunted Shared Services project has become an unmitigated disaster, Shadow Finance Minister Rob Lucas said today. Mr Lucas said Budget documents reveal a further blowout of $10.5 million in the total costs of the project after another blowout of $8.3 million was revealed by Treasury in a letter to the Budget…
DetailsTaxpayers paid up to $500 an hour for Labor Government Ministers to receive professional media training, Shadow Finance Minister Rob Lucas said today. Information provided to the Liberal Party from yet another leak has confirmed that Media Insider, a company run by Channel 10 Sports Reporter Mark Aiston, had been contracted to provide the training.…
DetailsThe Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:35): Many commentators refer to this Labor government as the most incompetent and most secretive in this state’s history. Sadly, I think now we must add to that the most scandal-ridden government that this state has ever seen. We have a government led by a Premier and a former deputy premier…
DetailsThe Labor Government has caved into pressure from the Opposition and industry groups, shelving its controversial industrial safety legislation which former Minister Bernard Finnigan had been trying to rush through parliament. Labor’s sole remaining Minister in the Legislative Council, Gail Gago, today took the unprecedented action of discharging and withdrawing the Bill. Shadow Industrial Relations…
DetailsShadow Minister for Industrial Relations Rob Lucas said today the Labor Government needed immediately to delay consideration of controversial industrial safety legislation, which former Minister Bernard Finnigan had been trying to rush through Parliament. Mr Finnigan introduced this legislation on 7 April and had advised Members it was a priority for debate in the next…
DetailsAuditor-General Simon O’Neill has confirmed to a parliamentary committee that funding to organisations such as Guide Dogs SA had been altered from the amounts approved by Cabinet. Shadow Finance Minister Rob Lucas said the Auditor-General told the Legislative Council Select Committee on Disability Services Funding organisations had missed out on up to $640,000: Organisation Cabinet…
DetailsThe Rann Government is still embroiled in a legal dispute with a building company which had refused to repay $750,000 to the South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commission (SAFECOM), Shadow Finance Minister Rob Lucas said today. “Evidence given to the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee by SAFECOM CEO David Place has confirmed that…
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