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Auditor General should vet Rann’s abuse of Govt advertising

Media Releases

A 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…

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Still UNANSWERED QUESTIONS on missing USB

Media Releases

The 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…

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FOLEY LOSES CONTROL of budget

Media Releases

Evidence 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…

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Rann/Foley lead on expenses – now CEOs follow

Media Releases

Families 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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Matter of Interest: Political Conduct

Speeches

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:30): The past two weeks in South Australian politics have been dominated by the events surrounding Premier Mike Rann and his alleged assault two weeks ago. My experience with these types of issues in the past is that generally it is not the issue itself that causes the most grief: it…

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Health completes BLOWOUT TRIFECTA

Media Releases

Evidence given to a Parliamentary Committee revealed there had been a massive $120 million blowout in the Health Department’s annual budget. Dr Tony Sherbon, Health Department CEO, revealed to the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee that budget overspends for 2008-09 totalled $120 million. “Unfortunately for South Australian taxpayers, the Rann Government’s Health Department has…

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Frequent flyer Rann’s “Gravy Plane”

Media Releases

Premier Mike Rann must introduce new controls of accountability on Ministers’ extravagant spending on overseas and interstate travel and entertainment. “As a first step Ministers should be required to provide details of total costs, purpose and results of each overseas and certain interstate trips on the government website,” Shadow Minister for Finance Rob Lucas said…

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CHAMELEON RANN changes defence AGAIN

Media Releases

Premier Mike Rann had again changed his defence in the debate over conflict of interest allegations against him. In a statement released late last week, Mr Rann now says the Deputy Crown Solicitor had previously advised that the simple fact that an organisation was located in a Minister’s electorate does not give rise to a…

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Rann Ministers’ UNREASONABLE expense claims

Media Releases

Documents released under Freedom of Information had revealed some Rann Government Ministers had been making unreasonable and extravagant claims at taxpayers’ expense. For example, these documents of expenses paid for by Ministerial credit cards show Treasurer Kevin Foley made the following claims for meals and late night (and early morning) drinking sessions in South Australia,…

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What are these Rann Ministers TRYING TO HIDE?

Media Releases

It was hard to believe claims by some Rann Government Ministers that there were no records of guests they took at taxpayers’ expense to the Government Corporate Box at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. “Documents released under Freedom of Information (see attached) showed Minister Pat Conlon and then Minister Steph Key invited guests to a performance…

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RANN CONDEMNED BY OWN WORDS

Media Releases

Premier Mike Rann had condemned himself by his own words in the debate over conflict of interest allegations against him, Shadow Minister for Finance Rob Lucas said today. “Yesterday, in an attempted defence over conflict of interest allegations about a $50,000 grant to the Port Power Football Club, Mr Rann told The Australian: “If it…

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