Wortley embarrassed on Burnside

Posted on November 3, 2011

Local Government Minister Russell Wortley has faced more embarrassment with Ken McPherson revealing the embattled Minister’s excuses for dumping the report into Burnside Council are incorrect.

Mr Wortley, who recently lost a no confidence motion in the Legislative Council, has consistently claimed that it would cost millions of dollars and take several years to complete the report.

“I was not prepared, like the opposition is prepared, to spend millions of dollars of taxpayers' money for an investigation that may take years to complete, if it was ever completed.” (Hansard, 27/7/11)

Mr McPherson has told a Parliamentary Committee the report would take just four months and $400,000 to complete.

Opposition Leader Isobel Redmond has called on Mr Wortley to urgently reverse his decision to dump the report in the interests of openness and transparency.

“Labor has wasted at least $1.3 million on this report but completely failed to restore public confidence – the process must be completed,” Ms Redmond said.

“Mr Wortley has described the Burnside fiasco as “petty” in the Parliament and made excuse after excuse to avoid the report being made public.

“Mr Wortley must now finally be accountable to the South Australian public, admit he got it wrong and release the report.

“The Liberal Opposition wants this issue resolved swiftly so that the people of South Australia and Burnside Council ratepayers can finally have peace of mind.”