Weatherill’s review ‘rank amateurish’
Jul 24, 2012
Hon Rob Lucas MLC
Shadow Minister for Finance
Weatherill’s review ‘rank amateurish’
Premier Weatherill’s review into ‘Mad March’ events has been a ‘rank amateurish’ process which has insulted and angered a key stakeholder.
“Mr Weatherill appointed his own ‘internal consultant’ Warren McCann to conduct the review, which recommended moving the V8 race forward to February and the June public holiday to May for a rescheduled Adelaide Cup,” Shadow Minister for Finance Rob Lucas said.
“Mr Weatherill is paying Mr McCann about $190k a year for his part time job as ‘internal consultant’.
“However it has now been revealed that Mr McCann never even spoke to V8 Supercars Chairman Tony Cochrane while conducting his review.
“It is almost incomprehensible that Mr Weatherill could approve the release of a review which hadn’t properly consulted arguably the most important stakeholder in the process.
“This is especially so when the review recommended a major change to the timing of the race.
“The media release issued by Tony Cochrane yesterday rejecting the proposal out of hand hints at the degree of anger felt at being ignored and insulted.
“As pointed out by Mr Cochrane there are significant contractual and financial commitments preventing such a move which should have been obvious to anyone especially Mr Weatherill and Mr McCann.
“Given the importance of the V8 race to South Australia the views of V8 Supercars should be a critical factor in scheduling events rather than ignoring them.
“Mr Weatherill must now explain why he didn’t ensure his review had consulted Mr Cochrane and the V8 Supercars organization and he should contact Mr Cochrane and issue an apology,” Mr Lucas said.