Liberal 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…
DetailsThe Rann Government had been left “red faced” by revelations that the independent actuary they appointed to do the WorkCover review was the same person they had attacked and denigrated for five years. Liberal Member of the Legislative Council, Rob Lucas, said today that last year Minister Michael Wright announced he had appointed two independent…
DetailsAttorney-General Michael Atkinson’s Department had refused access under Freedom of Information laws to all 29 of 29 documents on the sale of the Public Trustee building and the related purchase of the Stock Exchange building. This is yet another example of the arrogance of the Rann government and raises important questions about what the Government…
DetailsEvidence from a senior public servant to a Parliamentary Committee had confirmed there was now a major black hole in the Rann Government’s claimed $130 million in savings from its shared services centre proposal. Chief Executive of the Department for Further Education, Employment and Science Technology (DFEEST), Brian Cunningham, told the Legislative Council’s Budget and…
DetailsEvidence to a Parliamentary Committee by WorkCover Chairman Bruce Carter had now cast doubt on a key Rann Government claim on WorkCover. Liberal Member of the Legislative Council, Rob Lucas, said today that for nearly two years the Government and especially Minister Michael Wright have been boasting that the decision to approve a single, monopoly…
DetailsThe Hon. R.I. LUCAS: At the outset I would like to say that it has been interesting, in recent weeks and months, to see the passionate positions adopted by some Labor members in this chamber on a variety of issues. With anything to do with fish or fishing the Hon. Mr Gazzola is to the…
DetailsThe Rann Government had today been accused of having a policy of ‘selective outrage’ when considering its response to different examples of public servants breaching Treasurer’s Instructions. Liberal Member of the Legislative Council, Rob Lucas, said that evidence given today by Land Management Corporation (LMC) executives to the Statutory Authorities Review Committee (SARC) meeting confirmed…
DetailsTaxpayers would now face a million dollar plus legal claim arising out of the “Stashed Cash” affair involving the actions of Attorney-General Michael Atkinson and the Rann Government. Liberal Member of the Legislative Council, Rob Lucas, said today this legal claim was clearly a major embarrassment for Mr Atkinson and Premier Rann who had staunchly…
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