Off the Record: Refund our overcharged water bills, BankSA chief spreads his wings
In this week’s Off the Record, we argue householders and businesses should get a refund for paying too much for water, BankSA’s chief spreads his wings and the $20 million local council secret that got out.
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In this week’s Off the Record, we argue householders and businesses should get a refund for paying too much for water, BankSA’s chief spreads his wings and the $20 million local council secret that got out.
Why can’t we get a water bill refund?
AS hundreds of thousands of SA Water customers paid quarterly bills due this week, they should be fuming at being overcharged for years.
Instead, the State Government has failed to sustain a political attack that should have been the equivalent of a free kick one metre dead in front of goals.
Treasurer Rob Lucas last week released the report of an independent inquiry into water pricing that found the former Labor government, when Jay Weatherill was premier and treasurer, artificially inflated the regulated asset base of SA Water.
The impact of this, in plain English, was that SA Water’s drinking water prices did not reflect the cost of providing these services, which resulted in unreasonably high prices for consumers. Lucas rightly seized on this, selectively quoting bits of the complicated report to argue water bills for hardworking families and businesses had been driven up.
“While the Government was able to deliver a small reduction in price from July 2013, that needs to be seen in the context of an increase in water prices of over 150 per cent in the previous five years,” Lucas’s media release said, quoting the report. Labor did not really contest this and Weatherill did not answer our messages.
This begs the obvious question: if we have paid too much for water, why can’t we get a refund? We asked Lucas, who said, simply: “The reality is, in terms of a refund, we don’t have the money.” We also thought it curious that the independent inquirer, Lew Owens, was the chairman of SA Water from 2011-17.
Paraphrasing Lucas, he explains that this made Owens well qualified to conduct the inquiry. It is perplexing — and perhaps a credit to the Labor Opposition — that this substantial hit to the hip pockets of thousands of people has not caused more outrage.
Bank chief spreads his wings
BankSA parent company Westpac Group has moved to defuse speculation that Nick Reade’s promotion heralds the looming demise of one of the brands in South Australia.
We can now reveal that Reade, the BankSA chief executive, will take on a broader role.
He will have additional responsibility for the Westpac brand across SA, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
Westpac consumer chief executive David Lindberg said Reade was highly respected in the SA market, having been a strong advocate for economic growth, and led BankSA’s transformation “into a modern, relevant and growing bank”.
“Nick’s ability to show strong leadership, whilst understanding local markets and communities, will be a great asset for our business in these important markets across the Westpac and BankSA brands,” he said.
We put this to senior national banking industry sources, who said Reade’s promotion had triggered internal speculation about whether this heralded the end of Westpac’s multibrand approach. This includes running BankSA and Westpac in SA,
This prompted the highly vexed question of whether Westpac would axe either its own brand or BankSA here.
We put this to Westpac, whose spokeswoman said: “Multibrand is a competitive advantage for the Westpac Group and we remain committed to this strategy.”
Clearly, Westpac is not about to scuttle either brand.
So, Reade’s promotion is more a recognition of his success in recasting BankSA.
Reade, a member of Premier Steven Marshall’s six-person Economic Advisory Council, has sought young customers through sponsoring the Adelaide Fringe and, with Optus and the State Government, is partnering with MIT to create a data-crunching laboratory at the Lot Fourteen innovation hub.
Reade was also the top national fundraiser for Vinnies CEO Sleepout (pictured left), with $206,304 — $25,000 more than his nearest rival.
OFF THE RECORD - THE SA POLITICS PODCAST: EPISODE 29
Council’s $20 million secret out
An Adelaide City councillor has allegedly breached a confidentiality order after letting slip the council had been asked to put more than $20 million towards a “development plan”.
During heated discussion about investigating whether the council should start a public register where elected members can log discussions with developers, Cr Phil Martin disclosed information from a meeting.
Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor said that information was in confidence. “In a secret meeting, we were asked to commit to a development plan that was going to cost the council $28 million over 25 years,” said Martin.
He also said the council had been asked to meet with a hotel developer.
Council governance manager Rudi Deco said: “If any breach of confidentiality has occurred, then all relevant processes are to be followed, consistent with the Local Government Act 1999 and the Code of Conduct for Elected Members.”
ScoMo man hug for new Sturt MP
Fledgling Sturt MP James Stevens certainly drew an all-star cast to his maiden speech this week — and he even had a man hug with Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Stevens’s predecessor, Christopher Pyne, was watching, as was Premier Steven Marshall, to whom the new MP was chief of staff until March.
State Speaker Vincent Tarzia sat near Education Minister John Gardner, while David Edwardson QC sat near the Premier.
The woman who replaced Stevens as Marshall’s chief of staff, Courtney Morcombe, was sitting near her boss, while her husband, federal Trade Minister Simon Birmingham, sat on the parliamentary floor with fellow South Australian senator and Families and Social Services Minister Anne Ruston.
Pyne, who retired from politics at the May election, was hanging out with his business partner and long-term staffer, Adam Howard.
At the end of Stevens’ speech, Sco Mo strolled over to join the congratulations and appeared to surprise his new backbencher by initiating the man hug.
Artful leadership bid
Some may consider Adelaide City councillor Anne Moran, who this week launched a tilt for deputy lord mayor, picture perfect for the job.
When The Advertiser called to interview Moran about her leadership bid, she was sitting for a portrait as part of the SALA Festival, which features more than 8000 artists in almost 700 events.
Moran has claimed a strong mandate for the deputy’s job, based on her tenure and size of her support at the 2018 poll — a massive 1821 first-round votes.
Christmas cheer
Adelaide Venue Management Corporation chief Anthony Kirchner paid tribute to the yuletide hospitality of Mawson MP Leon Bignell during parliamentary estimates this week.
Kirchner listed the $4.6 million of food and beverages bought by the Adelaide Convention Centre in 2018-19, including 80,000 litres of beer and cider and 40,000 wine bottles.
“Members on our right (Bignell’s Labor comrades) are probably thinking it is a member for Mawson’s Christmas party but I can assure you it is not,” he said.
Crow blind
Oour Adelaide Oval spies tell us Independent Commissioner against Corruption Bruce Lander is an enthusiastic and vociferous Adelaide Crows supporter.
Sitting in the western stand, Lander has impressed nearby patrons with the intensity of his barracking.
During finals fever in 1993, he told The Advertiser that lawyers flocked to the Crows because “it’s something that has caught our imagination”.
Which has prompted some to ask the jocular question: if they lose tonight, will Lander launch a maladministration inquiry?
Battle to save animals on the brink at Outback reserve
Conservationists are battling to save animals at an Outback reserve from the effects of the worst drought in recent memory, and have received a funding boost to redouble their efforts.
Country tradie to face court over incomplete work
A country tradesman will face the Elizabeth Magistrates Court over allegations he was not licenced and refused to refund money to clients.