Based on Budget statements made by Treasurer Kevin Foley, further public sector jobs will be cut by the Rann Government (if re-elected) as a result of recent public sector wage deals. “In last year’s Budget Mr Foley made it quite clear that if public sector wage increases were not limited to 2.5 per cent per…
DetailsThe Rann Government had refused to answer in excess of 2,500 questions on notice in the Parliament, some of which had been first asked seven years ago in December 2002. “Whilst official records have not been kept, it is clear the Rann Government has set the record for having the most unanswered questions ever at…
DetailsThe taxation regime under the Rann Government is stifling the states economy and suffocating small business. The independent Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) released its 2009 report of State Business Taxes revealing that South Australia’s businesses pay 4.8 per cent more state business taxes than the national average and 10.5 per cent above tax liabilities…
DetailsFamilies and Communities Minister Jennifer Rankine’s office had refused to release names and details of her personal staff and had cited public safety issues as the bizarre explanation. “The arrogance of the Rann Government is clearly demonstrated by the increasingly outrageous reasons they give for refusing to provide information under Freedom of Information laws,” Liberal…
DetailsFamilies and Communities Minister Jennifer Rankine had bungled again in her increasingly desperate attempt to conceal the names of all 21 staff in her taxpayer funded Ministerial office. After being questioned on radio station 5AA this afternoon by Mike Smithson, Ms Rankine indicated she was prepared to show the list of her 21 staff to…
DetailsA detailed analysis of the latest Auditor General’s Report revealed the Rann Government was spending at least $200 million per year on consultants, contractors and agency staff. “Total claimed consultancy costs for 2008-09 were $27 million and contractor/agency staff costs were $145 million,” Shadow Minister for Finance Rob Lucas said today. “However, the real costs…
DetailsThe Hon. R.I. LUCAS (16:51): I have to say that that is probably the limpest and lamest defence of a minister of the Crown that I have ever heard, but I am not surprised, coming from the Hon. Mr Finnigan. He probably had a good hard look at the evidence, which was quite damning in…
DetailsShadow Minister for Finance Rob Lucas said today that all members of the Statutory Authorities Review Committee had reported they were ‘appalled’ at some of the evidence given to an inquiry into the operation of the Rann Government’s Office of the Public Trustee. Mr Lucas said that Labor, Liberal and Independent MLCs all agreed on…
DetailsA Parliamentary Committee had recommended independent vetting of Premier Mike Rann’s government advertising. The Select Committee on Taxpayer Funded Government Advertising Campaigns proposed that the Auditor General investigate proposed campaigns and their compliance with government advertising guidelines. “The Liberal Opposition has committed to ending Mr Rann’s abuse of government advertising by proposing to slash expenditure…
DetailsThe Rann Government had been forced to reveal that there had been a massive blowout in the annual payment for the six supposed “Super Schools” from the original estimate of $13 million per year to $27 million per year. “The Rann Government revealed originally the estimated annual payment of $13 million for the “Super Schools”…
DetailsThe Rann Government had estimated it would spend at least $46 million on consultants and staff costs for three public-private partnership projects. “When an estimated compensation bill of about $10 million for not proceeding with the prisons PPP is also included, the total would be at least $56 million,” Shadow Minister for Finance Rob Lucas…
DetailsThe Rann Government’s attempt today to gloss over the “missing USB scandal” had left many unanswered questions. “Mr Foley’s claim today that most of the documents on the missing USB “would be of little value to bidders” is completely contrary to evidence given to parliamentary committees by senior Treasury and Health officers,” Shadow Minister for…
DetailsThe Hon. R.I. LUCAS (16:04): I move: That the report on the operations of the committee, 2008-09, be noted. In moving this motion, I intend to speak relatively briefly. At the outset, I thank the members of the committee for what has been a rigorous work program over the past 12 months, and I thank…
DetailsEvidence given to the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee confirmed that after only three months the Health Department was facing another budget blowout of about $80 million. “Under Treasurer Jim Wright told the Committee that the regular monthly monitoring meetings between the Treasury and Health Departments had been told that Health’s estimate of the…
DetailsFamilies on waiting lists for surgery in our hospitals would be outraged when they see the thousands of taxpayer dollars being wasted on lunches and dinners for public servants earning more than $300,000 per annum. “Some of these expenses are outrageous, unreasonable and unacceptable,” Shadow Minister for Finance Rob Lucas said today. “However, the problem…
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