A little-known office, $55k contracts and a growing political problem

Key points

• An auditor-general's report has found the state government awarded 14 consultant contracts for the North Adelaide Golf Course project at $55,000 each, the threshold that triggers extra scrutiny. The department later signed 11 new contracts with the same consultants, each worth more than $55,000, avoiding that scrutiny.
• The auditor-general warned that significant investment decisions may have been made without required analysis of costs, benefits and value for money. Premier Peter Malinauskas said the decisions were made by the department, not his office.
• The Liberal Party plans a motion to compel documents related to the contracts.