Lucas, Hon. R.I.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (10:22): I move:

That this council condemns the record of the Hon. Rob Lucas including:

1. Delivering more budget deficits than any Treasurer in the state’s history;

2. Increasing the state’s debt threefold to a projected $32 billion, with interest costs reaching $1.2 billion per year;

3. Delivering the lowest economic growth of any state or territory in 2019-20, after falling growth in 2018-19;

4. Delivering falling employment growth rates since coming to government and the highest unemployment rate in the nation regularly over the past two years;

5. Increasing taxes, fees and charges to South Australians despite promising to 'lower costs' at the last election;

6. Privatising key government assets including ETSA, which delivered South Australia the highest electricity prices in the world; and

7. Cutting crucial government services and engaging in industrial disputes with critical workers including paramedics.

This motion states in plain black and white the abject failures of the Hon. Rob Lucas as Treasurer, as it was last time the Hon. Rob Lucas was Treasurer selling ETSA and, as education minister before that, closing down record numbers of schools under his watch. We have seen in recent times the land tax debacle, the electric vehicle debacle—many debacles. I spoke about this yesterday in response to a motion from the Hon. Rob Lucas. Again, out of deference to the members of the crossbench who patiently waited for hours as the Hon. Rob Lucas spoke last night, I will show them much more respect than he did and I will seek leave to conclude my remarks.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.