The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:42): I rise to speak about the duplicity and deceitfulness of the Premier, the Rann government and its spin doctors. In particular, I want to talk about the arrogance and game-playing engaged in by the Premier, in particular, and his officers in relation to refusing to answer serious questions and issues…
DetailsThe Rann Government was going to spend $9 million on a fit-out for a building which was being vacated by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and SA Water as they moved into luxury new accommodation in the Catholic Church building in Victoria Square. Last week it was revealed that the Rann Government was going to…
DetailsThe latest gazetted salaries for Rann Government ‘Spin Doctors’ and staff further confirmed that many of them were grossly overpaid and leeches on the public purse sucking valuable dollars from more important priorities. Liberal Member of the Legislative Council, Rob Lucas, said today that there is no justification at all for Mr Rann to pay…
DetailsTreasurer Kevin Foley was wasting millions of taxpayer dollars on ‘dead rent’ in buildings for public servants due to the Labor Government’s decision to delay the Shared Services project. Liberal Member of the Legislative Council, Rob Lucas, said today that in July last year the Rann Government announced the lease of nine floors of Westpac…
DetailsThere had been a $20.5 million blowout and a five year delay in a major IT project managed by Treasurer Kevin Foley. Evidence given to today’s meeting of the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee by Under Treasurer Jim Wright confirmed that the original $22.5 million budget for Revenue SA Information Systems To Enable Compliance…
DetailsPremier Mike Rann was trying to implement a lockout of Adelaide’s bars and clubs through the back door without introducing legislation into the Parliament. Liberal Member of the Legislative Council, Rob Lucas, said today that for the last few weeks Mr Rann had been trying to get more than 100 bars and club licensees in…
DetailsThousands of people have joined with Rob Lucas to oppose strongly any proposed lockout of bars and clubs in Adelaide by the Rann Labor Government. An online Facebook Group titled “Don’t let MIKE RANN lock you out of Adelaide’s bars and clubs after 2am” currently had in excess of 8,000 members after only six days,…
DetailsLiberal Member of the Legislative Council, Rob Lucas, said today he would oppose strongly any proposed lockout of bars and clubs in Adelaide city. Mr Lucas said it was clear from statements by the Rann Government and Police Commissioner Mal Hyde that they were considering the introduction of a compulsory lockout. Messrs Gago and Holloway…
DetailsThe Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:38): I rise to strongly oppose any proposed lockout of bars and clubs from 2am or 3am. At the outset, I indicate that this is my personal view which does not purport to represent the view of my party. Ministers Gago and Holloway attended the recent Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy…
DetailsThe Rann Government should be held accountable publicly for the level of funding provided to major events. Chief Executive of Tourism SA, Andrew McEvoy, today told the Legislative Council’s Budget and Finance Committee that ‘commercial confidentiality’ might prevent release of the details of government funding. Liberal Member of the Legislative Council, Rob Lucas, said today…
DetailsPremier Rann should be required to justify why he no longer reports publicly on the extent of taxpayer subsidies per seat sold to the State Opera. In evidence to the Legislative Council’s Budget and Finance Committee, Chief Executive of Arts SA, Greg Mackie, this week denied any knowledge of the reasons why the material was…
DetailsThe Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:21): I want to speak about rampant political tokenism. Can I say at the outset that I accept that, on specific or ceremonial occasions, it is appropriate to acknowledge the traditional owners of our lands here in South Australia or, indeed, in other states and territories of Australia. However, I believe…
DetailsLiberal Member of the Legislative Council, Rob Lucas, said today’s evidence given to the Legislative Council’s Budget and Finance Committee had revealed that the Housing Minister Jay Weatherill had wasted up to $5 million on an information technology (IT) project which after five years still wasn’t working. “It is unbelievable that last week Mr Weatherill…
DetailsPremier Mike Rann should ensure more information is made available publicly about the activities of the Labor Party’s fundraising vehicle – SA Progressive Business. SA Progressive Business was first established in 2003 and is chaired by lobbyist and former Labor Senator Nick Bolkus. Liberal Member of the Legislative Council, Rob Lucas, said today that SA…
DetailsLiberal Member of the Legislative Council, Rob Lucas, has today called for an urgent review of an appalling example of public service mismanagement in which a public servant had been suspended on full pay for almost two and a half years for saying “bullshit” to a co-worker. “This appalling waste of taxpayers’ money is one…
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