The startling cost of a non-physical shifting of a government agency out of one department, and then back again, has today been revealed at almost half a million dollars.

The chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, Heidi Girolamo, said it was revealed today that a further $110,000 had been spent on moving Skills SA from the Department of Education back to the Department of State Development on top of the already reported $360,000.

“This is much higher than first reported,” said Ms Girolamo.

Budget and Finance Committee was told by Chief Executive of Department of State Development Adam Reid, that the additional $110,000 covered the cost of transferring IT and payroll operations.

“They remained in 11 Waymouth Street with the Department for Industry, Innovation and Science, so we didn’t actually have that physical move in and out. Most of the costs of moving back into DSD are Shared Services costs, internal to government costs.” Adam Reid, CE, DSD.

Ms Girolamo said the cost was mind-boggling, particularly because the staff within the department involved in the transfer, did not physically move offices.

“This significant amount of taxpayer money was spent, and no one actually moved – it would be funny, if it wasn’t so embarrassing for this Labor government.

“And now to find even more money has been spent is definitely worthy of a comedy script.

“This is such a waste of taxpayer money,” said Ms Girolamo.

“For the total cost of the failed shuffle to reach almost half a million dollars is outrageous.

The cost of the first move was more than $360,000, including $200,000 paid to consulting firm PwC.

“This Malinauskas Government has spent almost half a million dollars of taxpayer funds undoing a Ministerial thought bubble. South Australian taxpayers deserve better.”