SA launches counterattack on federal cuts

South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill has initiated a campaign against the Abbott government’s Budget cut of $5.5 billion to the state that will impact on health and education.

3 July, 2014

Spurned SA councils could swing state election result

Expedient rate pegging promises could come back to bite hard after a key independent in Forme asked for views of mayors in his electorate.

17 March, 2014

Councils slam rate pegging slug in South Australia

A pledge by the South Australian Opposition to force rate pegging onto local governments after the March election has put councils immediately offside.

3 March, 2014

South Australia cracks regulatory whip on government purchasing

A big shake-up of SA’s state procurement policy aims to give locals a real shot at winning government contracts – if they hire South Australians.

20 February, 2014

South Australia goes full tilt for massive new $1.5bn wind farm

The South Australian government has blown off critics of wind power after it approved the second largest turbine generation facility in Australia in a bid to boost Adelaide’s power supply and spin the city out of a manufacturing downturn.

13 February, 2014

Tasmanian councils harden push for container deposit scheme

By Paul Hemsley Councils in Tasmania are backing the idea of a state-based Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) after a new independent report found the move could generate long term savings for local governments in kerbside waste collection and disposal. The fresh look at the potential value of a CDS on the Apple Isle comes after […]

19 December, 2013

Combet to head South Australia’s automotive recovery

By Paul Hemsley After retiring from politics at the September 2013 federal election, former Minister for Industry and Innovation Greg Combet has found a new role right up his alley mitigating the predicted fallout from the planned closure of General Motors Holden’s factory doors in South Australia by 2017. As the South Australian government continues […]

17 December, 2013

Canberra seeks industry know-how for light rail procurement

By Paul Hemsley Canberra’s long awaited light rail project is gaining momentum as the Capital Metro Agency has commenced a search for technical advisers to guide the project towards its procurement phase in 2015. These technical advisers will be expected to have expertise in transport planning, engineering design, light rail operations, environmental assessment, urban design, […]

17 December, 2013

Holden departure throws open government fleet business

By Julian Bajkowski Government fleet buyers across Australia in all sectors will be forced to reassess their procurement plans after iconic carmaker General Motors Holden confirmed that it will cease local production in 2017, leaving Toyota as the last onshore manufacturer. The confirmation has big implications for the federal fleet sector as well as Victorian […]

11 December, 2013

South Australian LGA president wants Adelaide state seat

By Paul Hemsley Local Government Association of South Australia President David O’Loughlin will seek to enter state politics after he revealed he will stand for the seat of Adelaide at the March 2014 State Election as an Australian Labor Party candidate. In a well-trodden path between tiers of government, Mr O’Loughlin has moved to formalise […]

8 October, 2013

Keep Australia Beautiful stands firm on Container Deposits Opposition

By Julian Bajkowski High profile litter-reduction group Keep Australia Beautiful is talking up its links to beverage industry heavyweights like Coca Cola a strong positive after South Australian Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Ian Hunter, criticised the link and lobbying against the introduction of a national container deposit scheme. “There is nothing to defend, […]

8 October, 2013

South Australia gives business tender touch

By Paul Hemsley and Julian Bajkowski The South Australian government is sending local businesses back to school to learn how to successfully tender for government contracts. As the push for local businesses to get a bigger slice of the procurement pie increases, Premier Jay Weatherill has committed funding of $60,000 for the state’s chamber of […]

12 September, 2013

South Australia embraces Open Data

By Paul Hemsley The South Australian government has joined the ranks of the federal government and other state governments after Premier Jay Weatherill mandated a new requirement for all government agencies to house their public data in a central portal to ensure that it is accessible to the community at large. Following in step with […]

6 September, 2013

South Australian councils dial into Coalition’s mobile coverage promise

By Paul Hemsley The Local Government Association of South Australia (LGA) wants patchy mobile phone coverage to be a thing of the past after it welcomed the federal Opposition’s plan worth $100 million to improve cellular reception across regional, remote and outer metropolitan communities. The federal Coalition announced the plan as a campaign promise that […]

16 August, 2013