Statutes Amendment (Prohibition of Human Cloning for Reproduction and Regulation of Research Involving Human Embryos) Bill The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (16:35): I indicate at the outset that I was one member who spoke about this matter at length almost six years ago, on 5 June 2003. I expressed my views at that stage, and I…
DetailsSenior Transport department executives yesterday gave evidence which conflicted with claims by Premier Rann about the state of readiness of South Australian projects being considered for funding under the $20 billion Building Australia Fund. Liberal MLC Rob Lucas said that on 29 October 2008, Premier Rann issued a media release listing South Australia’s five priority…
DetailsMinister Pat Conlon and his senior departmental executives were refusing to implement a key ruling by the Auditor-General which led to an audit qualification of the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure’s (DTEI) 2006-07 financial accounts. Mr Jim Hallion, CEO of the DTEI, and other senior executives were questioned at today’s meeting of the Legislative…
DetailsThe Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:39): I want to talk also about what some sections of the media refer to as the ‘appointment of young Turks to refresh and reinvigorate a fading and lacklustre Rann cabinet’. The first “young Turk” was evidently Mr O’Brien who, at 59 years of age, must BE the oldest young Turk…
DetailsIn excess of $200,000 dollars had been wasted on a consultant developing a “new model” to handle surplus public servants, which was now not being used. “Senior executives from the Department of the Premier and Cabinet (DPC) gave evidence to the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee that consultant Hunters Management & Consultants had been…
DetailsThe Auditor-General has indicated the Premier was wrong to dismiss Randall Ashbourne, in evidence today to the Atkinson-Ashbourne-Clarke Affair Select Committee. Mr Ken MacPherson has also indicated that South Australian taxpayers, through the Rann Government, have been exposed to a significant unfair dismissal claim and liability, according to Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas. HON R.I. LUCAS:…
DetailsThere was a battle looming over WorkCover’s attempts to keep secret key changes to its multimillion dollar contract with its claims manager. “WorkCover Chairman Philip Bentley today told the Statutory Authorities Review Committee hearing that WorkCover believed critical contract changes provided to the Committee should not be made public,” Liberal MLC Rob Lucas said today.…
DetailsThe Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:50): I want to speak this afternoon about a great South Australian sporting institution, much loved by hundreds of thousands of South Australians over the years, the Adelaide 36ers, the men’s basketball team. Many tens of thousands of people have enjoyed following the 36ers, at what was the powerhouse and is…
DetailsThe Rann Government was wasting millions of taxpayers’ dollars through slack management of IT projects whilst at the same time cutting important services for disadvantaged families. Evidence given today by senior executives from the Department for Families and Communities (DFC) to the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee confirmed there had been a $12 million…
DetailsThe Rann Government had secretly deferred $9 million in announced cuts to government advertising whilst still insisting all departments, including Health, had to cut their budgets due to the global financial crisis. “This is an act of absolute hypocrisy by Premier Rann and will be greeted with anger by the community as well as departments…
DetailsThe Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee and the Auditor-General would need to investigate growing concerns about the Rann Government’s mishandling of the State Aquatic Centre Project, Liberal MLC Rob Lucas said today. “In June 2008 Cabinet approved and Premier Mike Rann announced that an agreement had been reached with Aqua43 (comprising Candetti Constructions and…
DetailsEvidence given today to the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee confirmed that Rann Government plans for budget and staff cuts in departments were in disarray. Senior executives from the Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH) told the Committee today they expected to be advised this month their share of 1200 full-time equivalent job cuts…
DetailsThe Rann Government’s funding of the Australia Day Council of South Australia was the worst of any state or territory government in Australia. “It is embarrassing to note that even the Northern Territory Government provides more than double the level of funding provided by the Rann Labor Government,” Liberal MLC Rob Lucas said today. Mr…
DetailsThe Rann Government had to explain why at a time of a looming crisis for WorkCover the WorkCover Board had only met six times last year, Liberal MLC Rob Lucas said today. “The Register of Boards and Committees tabled in Parliament shows the WorkCover Board only had six Board meetings last year, which was about…
DetailsTaxpayers were paying almost $800,000 every year for Rann Government board appointments of “Labor mates” or people with a close association to the Labor Party. “Mr Rann must explain publicly his reasons for continually appointing so many people with connections to the Labor Party to key Government boards and committees,” Liberal MLC Rob Lucas said…
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