Former Director of Public Prosecutions (Acting) Wendy Abraham QC has today rejected as ‘offensive’ claims made by the Rann Government in relation to her decision to prosecute former senior Rann Government adviser Randall Ashbourne, Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today. Senior Rann Government Minister Paul Holloway recently made the extraordinary suggestion that Ms Abraham’s decision…
DetailsThe Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Leader of the Opposition): I want to speak about Mike Rann and, in particular, aspects of his political spin and his mastery of that area. I also want to talk about his propensity to claim anyone in public office as a close and dear friend of his of many years. Let…
DetailsExplosive evidence from the Rann Government’s former senior legal adviser has seen Mr Rann’s inquiry into the Atkinson/Ashbourne affair described as ‘inept’, Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today. Former Crown Solicitor Mike Walter QC, in evidence to the Legislative Council Select Committee in to the affair, dismissed Mr Rann’s inquiry conducted by his Departmental Chief…
DetailsTotal job losses resulting from the closure of the third shift and cuts in production at Holden will be between 2800 and 4200 jobs, according to Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas. “Whilst everyone is obviously disappointed for the 1400 Holden workers and their families directly impacted by this decision, we need to remember another 1400-2800 workers…
DetailsSignificant concerns about South Australia’s property taxation system will be aired this afternoon in the first public hearing of a Parliamentary inquiry into the collection of property taxes, Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today. The Liberal Party succeeded in establishing a Select Committee to inquire into all matters relating to the issue of property taxes…
DetailsDamning evidence today to the Atkinson-Ashbourne Select Committee from a senior police officer has confirmed that Attorney-General Michael Atkinson kept a number of documents secret from the original police inquiry, according to Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas. Superintendent Peter Simons, who was in charge of the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) inquiry, today confirmed that key documents held…
DetailsShadow Treasurer Rob Lucas has criticised the reappointment of Stephen Howells as the Presiding Member of the Independent Gambling Authority (IGA). “Mr Howells’ conduct in his time as Presiding Member already has drawn much criticism, and the Rann Government should not have reappointed him,” Mr Lucas said today. “Whilst gambling issues are conscience issues in…
DetailsThe head of the Rann Government’s original Atkinson/Ashbourne inquiry, Warren McCann, today confirmed he met with Premier Rann to discuss the findings of his inquiry prior to signing his final report, Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today. In evidence to the Legislative Council Select Committee on the Atkinson/Ashbourne affair Mr McCann said Mr Rann had…
DetailsThe Rann Government’s US-based model for economic development has been judged such a failure in its home state that the parliament of Oregon cut all funding in the 2003-05 budget, Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas revealed today. When the Rann Government announced its decision to establish the Economic Development Board (EDB) and to develop the State…
DetailsThere were further fiery exchanges between the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Rann Government at today’s hearing of the Legislative Council inquiry into the Atkinson/Ashbourne affair, according to Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas. “Rann Government Minister Paul Holloway tried to further antagonise Mr Stephen Pallaras QC through a series of questions and statements which…
DetailsShadow Treasurer Rob Lucas has written to the Auditor-General requesting an urgent investigation of Rann Government actions in concealing expenditure on consultants. “Over the last three years the Rann Government has taken action in a number of ways to avoid accountability and prevent details of actual expenditure on consultants from being publicly revealed,” Mr Lucas…
DetailsStunning evidence from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to the Atkinson-Ashbourne inquiry helps explain why Mike Rann and his Ministers have tried to cover up the affair right from the start, according to Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas. “Mr Stephen Pallaras today revealed that he believes Mike Rann’s Senior Legal Adviser, Mr Nick Alexandrides, made…
DetailsShadow Treasurer Rob Lucas has welcomed the decision today of the Parliament’s Upper House to establish a Parliamentary inquiry into the collection of property taxes, and what are widely considered to be inequities in the current system. Mr Lucas moved in March for the Legislative Council to establish a Select Committee to inquire into all…
DetailsThe State Government will reap an extra $20 million in poker machine revenue each year until 2006-07 despite the ‘window-dressing’ gaming machine buy-back which starts today, Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said. Figures from the State Budget reveal poker machine intake will rise from $302m in 2004-05 to about $344m in 2006-07. Mr Lucas said the…
DetailsMedia Mike Rann is ducking for cover at a time he needs to answer questions about the behaviour of one of his senior advisers in relation to the Premier’s appearance at the Ashbourne trial, Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas said today. “We now know that the DPP Mr Pallaras has stated that this issue is of…
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