RANN GOVERNMENT

Mr VENNING (Schubert) (15:43): I have been in this place for a long time but I have never experienced or seen firsthand the turmoil inside a ruling state Labor government as we have seen in the last week or so. People are not happy with the performance of this Rann Labor government, especially the electorate at large, including the trade unions. The factional bosses have brought about changes—desperately trying to turn Labor's fortunes around—and especially the bad policies that it has implemented.

I congratulate the Hon. John Rau on his elevation to the Deputy Premier's position. 'At last' we can say. He has been a man of talent. We wondered why he languished on the backbench for so long. He is now the premier in waiting. Or will it be the Hon. Jay Weatherill? He does have talent as well. We know that, but he does not have the factional numbers to enable him to be promoted. But, John, be aware, be alert—I understand he's good at leapfrog.

I also congratulate the Hon. Jack Snelling on his election as Treasurer, and also the Hon. Tom Kenyon—I will watch his progress with interest. To the member for Light, Mr Tony Piccolo, who is here, I give my commiserations. I do not think it is a suitable reward for winning a safe seat and ten months is not long to be in the position of chairman of the Public Works Committee. I also note the promotion of Ms Leesa Vlahos, the member for Taylor, and I certainly wish her well in that position. Being chairman of the Public Works Committee is a very critical job, and we will watch that with interest.

I want to make special mention of the leaving from the ministry of one of its most capable, respectable, professional and cooperative ministers. I am very sad that the Hon. Paul Holloway has thought it necessary to resign. I am curious to know why the leadership allowed this. He should have been asked to stay there until at least six months before the election. I pay a tribute to Paul's work, especially in the planning and mines portfolios. He made the toughest jobs look easy, and I thank him personally for what he delivered for the state, for the people of Schubert and for me. And to think he went to make way for the Hon. Bernie Finnigan. I will never speak ill of any parliamentary colleague, but I very much doubt whether he could hold a candle to the Hon. Paul Holloway.

Between Bernie and Gail, I know my upper house colleagues will welcome the change it really does highlight. In choosing the best people to run the state we leave it to backroom factional bosses to flout their power and promote their factional mates. I also commiserate with and thank the Hon. Kevin Foley. I have known him a long time and wish him well in the future.

I very much welcome today the Minister for Health at last tabling the 'Outline Business Case Barossa Health Service Country Health SA, 7 October 2010'. I am very pleased that after one year and seven months we at last now have this document tabled and we can all now see it, and actions will be taken. I now will invite the minister and others to address this, and invite him to the valley to meet all the stakeholders, and hopefully this project will feature in the next state budget.

I now want to talk about the state economy in general. The results are in, and for the second year in a row South Australia has been ranked as having the highest taxes in the nation. Tax revenue has increased 75 per cent since this government came to office in 2002. The Institute of Public Affairs State Business Tax Calculator calculates the level of state and territory governments taxes on business. Their most recent report, released on 10th of January, shows that South Australians pay more than double the state and territory average on land tax. Land tax revenue has quadrupled under the Rann Labor Government and we are all feeling the pain.

South Australia's poor ranking somehow shows how out of touch and arrogant the Rann government has become. They released a 'slash and burn' budget in September last year, cutting small funding commitments, such as $300,000 to the Keith Hospital—which will ensure its closure—in an effort to find savings, and now it has become evident that we are still the highest taxed state or territory in the nation.

What is the Rann Labor Government doing with all the revenue they have at their disposal? They are overspending and wasting money and paying the cost of debt—interest. South Australians are angry, and rightly so, that in the midst of all these cuts they have had to deal with the Minister for Transport is having his office remodelled the cost of $490,000, and the Premier's department has spent nearly $250,000 remodelling the CEO's office in the last two years. The Premier's department has also grown by almost 500 staff since 2005, increasing from 630 full-time positions to 1,158. Wow, that is an absolute disgrace.

Time expired.