A rental crisis in South Australia is looming with some rental increases of up to 20 per cent likely with vacancy rates approaching zero. Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today that evidence presented by the Real Estate Institute (REI) to the Legislative Select Committee on Property Taxes painted a bleak picture of the rental market…
DetailsThe ‘Stashed Cash’ Select Committee today heard further evidence from the Auditor General on an unlawful $5 million loan from Minister Jay Weatherill’s former department (DAIS) to Minister John Hill’s former department (DWLBC). Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said the Auditor General today confirmed that Minister Hill had not advised the Auditor General as soon as…
DetailsAn independent analysis of Treasury forecasts and budget papers has shown South Australia has the worst economic growth forecast of all mainland states. Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today that the Australian Financial Review (AFR) last week analysed all Mid Year Budget Reviews (MYBR) produced by State Treasuries and produced the following worrying assessment: Gross…
DetailsAn increasingly arrogant Rann Government is now refusing to answer questions on the costs of consultants employed by departments and agencies. Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today that, for many years, Labor and Liberal governments have answered questions on consultancy costs during estimates committee hearings providing details on the name of each consultant, the cost,…
DetailsMinister Michael Wright must justify his reasons for spending $184 on his Ministerial credit card for a lunch for one in Melbourne, Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today. Documents released under Freedom of Information (attached) show Mr. Wright spent $184.60 on a lunch for one at the exclusive and very expensive Flower Drum Chinese restaurant…
DetailsFor 18 hours in March last year Minister Michael Wright enjoyed an ‘excellent adventure’ of limousines and expensive restaurants in Sydney at taxpayer’s expense, Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today. Mr Lucas said that documents received under freedom of information relating to Minister Wright’s travel and entertainment expenses reveal: •After flying business class to Sydney…
DetailsShadow Treasurer Rob Lucas today called on Premier Rann to introduce new controls of accountability on Ministers spending on overseas and interstate travel and entertainment. Mr Lucas said 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…
DetailsLatest figures show the Rann Government is going to collect an expected windfall of $572 million in extra revenue over the next four years, Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today. The Mid Year Budget Review (MYBR) released just before Christmas details the extraordinary windfall gains in just the three months since the September Budget. Total…
DetailsShadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today that massive increases in land tax in recent years were a major reason for Adelaide’s current rental housing crisis. Over recent months the rental housing market in Adelaide has tightened considerably with official figures now showing rents soaring and vacancy rates the lowest since data collection commenced three years…
DetailsCommonwealth Government economic forecasts show a slowing of the nation’s economic growth at a time when South Australia’s economy has almost stopped. The Commonwealth Government today released its Mid Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) which showed that national economic growth this year will be 2.5 per cent down from the budget forecast of 3.25…
DetailsAn increasingly arrogant Rann Government is snubbing its nose at Parliamentary accountability by refusing to answer hundreds of questions on notice in the Parliament. Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today that some of the questions had been unanswered for periods of up to four years and, to mark the occasion, Premier Rann would be receiving…
DetailsThe Mid Year Budget Review has revealed that budget costs are blowing out at the rate of $4 million per day. Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said it was extraordinary that in less than two months since the State Budget total costs have blown out by about $220 million. “This is further evidence of a Government…
DetailsShadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today that the retirement of Auditor-General Ken MacPherson in two months (February 2007) time should see the end of the escalating dispute with the Director of Public Prosecutions. The Rann Government has decided not to proceed with legislation to extend Mr MacPherson’s time by five years because it knows the…
DetailsShadow Treasurer Rob Lucas has today criticised Premier Rann for wanting to rush four new bills through both Houses of Parliament in the last three sitting days whilst at the same time he has decided not to allow Parliament to sit for an optional extra week before Christmas. Mr. Lucas said that, in addition to…
DetailsThe Rann Government has refused to release almost 100 documents relating to the payout of more than $400,000 to Mister Rann’s former senior political ‘spin doctor,’ Randall Ashbourne, Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today. Mr. Ashbourne was one of the central figures with Attorney General Michael Atkinson in the Atkinson/Ashbourne/Clarke scandal which is still being…
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