Premier Rann’s own department had spent half a million dollars on a “policy development” consultancy at a time when the state budget was cutting important programmes and services. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet had engaged Boston Consultancy Group (BCG), a global strategic advice firm, to “deepen strategy and policy development capabilities across the…
DetailsUnder Treasurer Jim Wright today confirmed that for the third consecutive Budget year, the Health Department had overspent its budget by between $50 million and $100 million, Shadow Minister for Finance Rob Lucas said today. “In evidence to the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee, Mr Wright today confirmed that the Health Department had again…
DetailsA massive scandal was brewing over the $1.7 billion hospital project given confirmation today that confidential costing information was lost on a missing USB memory stick, Shadow Minister for Finance Rob Lucas said today. “Whilst the Rann Government has been coy for weeks about what information was on the missing USB memory stick, information from…
DetailsThe Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:43): I refer to a story in this morning’s newspaper that was headed ‘Tweets make twit of Rann’, a story by Michael Owen. Members will be aware that Mr Rann tells everyone, and prides himself on the fact, that he personally handles his Twitter account—and that is important in terms of…
DetailsThe Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:30): I want to talk about a major factional brawl within the Labor Party at the moment in relation to the Legislative Council preselection. Mr President, as you would well know, based on seniority the four sitting members would be endorsed: minister Holloway, if he goes on (although he will be…
DetailsThe Rann Government had not spent at least $100 million of its 2007-08 Transport budget and was also likely to underspend significantly its 2008-09 capital works budget. Evidence to the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee from Jim Hallion, CEO Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure (DTEI), confirmed that in 2007-08 actual capital works spending…
DetailsEvidence to a Parliamentary Committee had confirmed public service job cuts would be greater than the announced 1600 and that there were concerns that savings targets would not be met if the number of separation packages was restricted to 1600, Liberal MLC Rob Lucas said today. Ray Garrand, CEO Department of Further Education, Employment and…
DetailsThe Hon. R.I. LUCAS (16:10): I rise to support the second reading of the Supply Bill. As I see it, the background to this debate features some of the comments made by the Hon. Mr Lawson in relation to South Australia’s credit rating, what I will refer to as the AAA credit rating debate. As…
DetailsThe Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:34): On 24 September last, I spoke on what I said was the pervasive influence and arrogance of the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association within the Labor Party and the Rann government. On that occasion I said: We can see the tentacles of the SDAEA everywhere in terms of the…
DetailsRecent decisions announced by the Federal Labor Government promising greater accountability on frequent flyer points now meant there was greater pressure on Premier Mike Rann to make similar changes. Liberal MLC Rob Lucas said that federal Labor Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner had admitted federal politicians were redeeming frequent flyer points for personal use. “In addition,…
DetailsAnswers provided last week by Minister Tom Koutsantonis and the Courts Administration Authority (CAA) on the Minister’s driving record had only raised further questions for the Minister to answer. A summary of the position, as outlined by Liberal MLC Rob Lucas, is as follows: • On 21 May 2007 Mr Koutsantonis was fined for speeding…
DetailsMinister Tom Koutsantonis had further questions to answer about his driving record after evidence given to a Parliamentary Committee by the Chief Executive of the Courts Administration Authority (CAA), Liberal MLC Rob Lucas said today. Mr Gary Thompson, CEO of the CAA, this week told the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee that about six…
DetailsBased on evidence given by Police Commissioner Mal Hyde, the Rann Government was highly unlikely to meet its election promise of 400 extra police officers by June 2010, Liberal MLC Rob Lucas said today. “Mr Hyde gave evidence to today’s meeting of the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee and confirmed that in June 2009…
DetailsRann Government Ministers and ‘Spin Doctors’ were wasting hundreds of thousands of taxpayers’ dollars on personal mobile phone costs because they won’t use deals used by most cost conscious South Australians. “Mr Rann must explain publicly why he and his Ministers are paying up to $16,000 per annum when there are many local phone plans…
DetailsThe Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:29): Before turning to what I was principally going to speak about, the Hon. Mr Finnigan refers to accuracy in statements made by members. I would remind the member to have a look at the humiliating, red-faced U-turn delivered in the other place yesterday by the Treasurer in relation to the…
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