Parliamentary Committees

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE: OLD STOCK EXCHANGE BUILDING

Ms CICCARELLO (Norwood) (11:02): I move:

That the 280^th report of the committee entitled 'Old Stock Exchange Building' be noted.

In 2007, the old Stock Exchange building was identified as being a suitable site for the Royal Institution Australia, the first international satellite of the Royal Institution of Great Britain in Adelaide. The Ri Australia was launched on 2 October 2007. It will be established with state government support, but this is on the basis that, ultimately, it will become self-funding. There are Morris stained-glass windows within the building which are valued at $1.2 million and which have been gifted to the state by the previous owner, Javier Moll. They will remain in situ and be available for public viewing.

Negotiations have begun concerning the use of the outdoor space on the eastern side of the building as a plaza for the activities of the Ri Australia and the public in general. The refurbishment will provide:

an auditorium with seating for approximately 200 people;

office space for up to 25 people;

meeting rooms and flexible space for public events;

provision for state-of-the-art audiovisual facilities and information communications technology;

a media centre for broadcast quality production briefings;

access for disabled;

exhibition, library and storage space.

Although the building is structurally sound, following an earthquake assessment structural retrofitting is required for compliance with relevant Australian standards.

The western end of the building remains as a timber framed structure and has much of the original fabric intact. The eastern end has had the original floors replaced with concrete slabs. Additional floors have been introduced which compromise the full height spaces and result in an ungainly juxtaposition of floors with windows. Refurbishment will require compromising a number of heritage components of the original structure, including the disabled access by putting in place a new lift, and fire safety and emergency egress provision. A new entrance on the McHenry Street facade will enable access from the street to a new lift which will give access to all floors. New openings in the south facade and in the east facade will be contemporary, using the latest in glass technology.

The building can be divided internally into two almost discrete zones, the axis being the main stair which itself is in heritage condition. The zone to the west will be restored to heritage standard. It has much of the original ceiling and wall panelling intact. The zone to the east, however, has lost much of its heritage integrity. The conversion of the trading room on the first floor to the general office will feature a remounting of the share movement chalkboards which were abandoned when the building fell into disuse.

The old Stock Exchange building is one of the few remaining Federation/Edwardian style buildings in Adelaide. It was opened in 1901 to commemorate Australian Federation and was included on the state heritage list in 1984 and the Register of the National Estate in 1993. It is proposed, within the limits of the budget, to conserve and expose the original elements and convert and utilise spaces for the required contemporary uses. Despite serious damage in one area, which has been penetrated by large air-conditioning ducts, overall the original timber ceilings appear to be in reasonably good condition. Where appropriate, the original timber wainscoting will be reinstated.

All the existing appropriate light fittings will be retained and supplemented, where necessary, to retain the necessary light levels. Original ornate door hardware (handles, escutcheon plates and push plates) will be retained and reused, as will the silvered window sash pulls. Original paint colour schemes will be employed where practicable. The building will act as a hub for science awareness activities in the state and will house the various initiatives which arose out of Baroness Professor Susan Greenfield's time as Adelaide thinker in residence.

The refurbishment will also provide a focus for a major civic hub in the crossroads of a very busy pedestrian precinct and will bring to life a historically and architecturally significant heritage building which has languished in a state of disuse since the early 1990s. The Ri will provide a venue for public events—discussions, debates, performances, workshops, training sessions, special projects and private facility hire.

Through these activities, the development will connect the energies of scientists, technologists and engineers with individuals and families, students, educators, media, government and industry. The Ri Australia will aim to foster a scientifically literate community which understands the relevance of science, engineering and technology to their everyday lives and which is open to education and career choices in these areas. More specifically, Ri Australia aims to:

address the current skills shortage by increasing interest and participation in science;

establish an international cultural institution in Adelaide that embraces the advantages of science and technology;

assist teacher professional development in the science sphere;

provide a hub for science engagement and public education; and

recognise and celebrate our scientific heritage—present and future.

The refurbishment will provide events and office spaces to support a variety of functions to achieve these aims, including:

a public program of science events based on the successful Science Outside the Square program for the general public;

supporting partnerships programs and events with the Royal Institution of Great Britain;

programs to coordinate public access to the science relevant to industry and the education sector and link it to developments in school science and mathematics;

the creation of a hub and focal point for collaboration between leading scientists, industry and business;

a Young Persons' Program of outreach activities to schools;

a series of professional development opportunities and resources for teachers, linking them to active science researchers;

a bursary system to provide scholarships to assist young South Australians as they embark on further study in science, maths and engineering courses; and

media and communications training for scientists through the Australian Science Media  

The declining number of Australians studying science and maths subjects in schools and further education institutes is a significant issue. Parents and teachers are the key targets for much of the activity of the Ri Australia. Thus, the project links particularly closely to South Australia's Strategic Plan 2007. Recently, the Premier was in London where he attended an elaborate opening by The Queen of the newly redeveloped Royal Institution, which was beamed into Adelaide via a video link between London and eminent scientists attending a special dinner for the occasion.

Under the path-breaking agreement with Santos following the removal of its 15  per cent shareholder cap, the company will now contribute $5 million in support of the Royal Institution Australia by the end of November. This centre will bring great benefit to South Australia. We must remember that two South Australians, Nobel Prize winners William and Lawrence Bragg, were previous directors of the Royal Institution London; so this is not only recognition of their association with the Royal Institution but also it honours their work in science.

The Australian Media Centre, which will be housed in the new Ri building (just as Britain's Science Media Centre is based at the Royal Institution London), will mean that many scientists, students, young people and researchers will have access to approximately 1,400 eminent scientists who will be able to provide information to people.

This will be a wonderful facility for us in South Australia, and it will continue to enhance our reputation as a university city and as a centre of learning. I commend the report of the committee to the house.

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (11:11): I rise to make a few comments relating to the report of the committee which provides for the restoration of the old Stock Exchange building to make it operational for the purpose of accommodating our new Royal Institution Australia. During his recent overseas trip, the Premier told us that The Queen gave her blessing (I suppose) to this new development when he attended with Her Majesty the opening in London of the redeveloped Royal Institution. This is a sister organisation, as I understand it, which has attracted the support of the government, and we now have the Public Works Committee's recommendation to proceed with the provision of this accommodation.

As a former tenant of a building adjacent to the Stock Exchange building at the time of the very significant fire and its near destruction, I was very sad to see the possible loss of this heritage building. As has been indicated by the member for Norwood (the Presiding Member of the committee), this building is a fine example of federation South Australian architecture which should be preserved and enhanced. However, I found it rather curious that the Premier, at his meeting with the Queen in London last week during the unveiling of the Royal Institution of Great Britain, should receive this accolade for its sister, the Royal Institution Australia to be accommodated in this facility, yet he is about to dismiss unilaterally the use of the title of the Royal Adelaide Hospital (which is just down the road) in light of the government's announcement last year to close that hospital and build the new Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Hospital.

In 1939 the hospital was given a royal charter to accept the title of 'royal'. So its title was changed from the Adelaide Hospital to the Royal Adelaide Hospital some decades after it had been opened as a major state hospital in the previous century.

We see, on the one hand, a government initiative, which is being accommodated by the recommendation of this report to house the Royal Institution of Australia and we see the decimation, at the other end of the city of Adelaide, of an even older institution which has had the patronage of Her Majesty. I find that curious, inconsistent and hypocritical but, nevertheless, in view of the government's proposal of the science institute, that has my support, as would be the case if they were to withdraw this ridiculous idea of abolishing the Royal Adelaide Hospital name.

Mr PENGILLY (Finniss) (11:15): It has been something of an interesting exercise to contribute towards the Stock Exchange building change of role and refurbishment and I, along with other members, I am sure, of the Public Works Committee, was very interested to go along and have a look at it and wander through the ancient floors and see a few things from our past that are still up there.

I have to say, though, that whilst I understand what the justification is ostensibly for the project I am somewhat concerned that we are spending $8 million and it is going to be confined to a very small interest group. In my view, it could become somewhat elitist, I am afraid. They are my concerns that I put on the table here today. I think it is a little bit of an ego trip on behalf of the Premier, quite frankly—or $8 million worth of ego trip might be more to the point. I do not know whether enough South Australians are going to benefit from it, or be able to participate in what goes on there.

I understand they are going to have a public program of science events (or they propose to), and we are going on partnership programs and all sorts of things. My concern is when we have these thinkers in residence, if they come up with half a good idea and then they disappear and ride off into the sunset and the government of the day decides, 'That's a wonderful idea and we'll spend $8 million'—or however many million is required in any given opportunity—we are going the wrong way.

I say that because I think members have seen what has come out of the announcement on Sunday about the $100 million for the football stadium down at West Lakes and the public reaction to that has been fairly large, to say the least. If you can believe the AdelaideNow poll, the vast majority of people do not support it. My worry is that we are going through this process with the old Stock Exchange building, we are spending $8 million on it, and I would suggest if we went out in the community there would be a very small percentage of the South Australian community that know what is going to happen, know the story, know what the program is and have no idea that $8 million is being spent on it to justify the foibles of the Premier.

It is interesting to observe and I will continue to monitor the progress and, in due course, I will monitor the outcomes from the decisions taken on this. We will have to justify whether that $8 million is, indeed, justified. Until that happens, we are just going to have to sit back and watch. Whilst I have participated in it, I am not 100 per cent sure that that amount of money being expended is in the best interests of wider South Australians.

Mr PISONI (Unley) (11:19): This is an interesting project. The procurement process was interesting and the rental agreement is interesting. This is a rental agreement which was set up by a government, of course, that has a Treasurer that says it is not into welfare for businesses. Yet you can only really describe the peppercorn rental deal—as it is described in the Hansard of this report—as assistance for business.

Really what the Deputy Premier should be saying is that it is only in the business of welfare for businesses that suit the Premier's agenda, because it is clear that the arrangements that are made here have made it very attractive for the college to come to Adelaide.

It is a beautiful building—there is no doubt about that. It has been, the term is, bastardised over the years. We even saw an extra floor had been put in by the previous owners of the Stock Exchange, but it will, I believe, be a lovely building when it is finished. I was not convinced that the government was serious about the integrity of the restoration of the building. There were many things that I saw as I walked through the building that were of value to South Australians; not only their building heritage, but South Australians' heritage of artisans and tradesmen as well, that I feel we may very well lose in this restoration. I hope we do not. I hope that the cloth is cut well enough that the budget can, in fact, ensure that some of the traditional work that will be required to restore this building will be undertaken with the integrity that it deserves.

The location of the building, of course, is in amongst a lot of passing foot traffic. One of the things I did notice (that maybe the new owners may put some pressure on the council to deal with) was the enormous amount of cigarette smoke that was in the vicinity. Although it was outside during our inspection, it was very uncomfortable to be there at the base of all those multistorey office buildings, where people were coming out to have their morning fag at the time of our inspection.

The project is there, it has been endorsed by the Public Works Committee and I will be very keen to be there at the opening and see how well they have respected the integrity of the building.

The Hon. P.L. WHITE (Taylor) (11:22): I rise in support of this motion to note the report of the committee which recommends the expenditure of $8.74 million on the renovation and upgrade of the old Stock Exchange building. It is a beautiful building, as has been said by all members who have spoken to this motion, and will be put to fantastic use.

It is true, as the member for Unley stated, that there are some significant aspects of the building that the committee members, having walked through the building, would like to see retained—and we have mentioned those to the proponents of this project. They include the carpets. From memory, it was only about eight years before the shutdown of the Stock Exchange that there was a major fire and refurbishment, so some of the features are in quite good condition.

One example is the carpets, which are unique South Australian-made carpets with emblems that are significant to the business of the Stock Exchange. There are other fixtures also, such as beautiful stained glass windows, and we were given assurances by the proponents of this project that those aspects would be dealt with appropriately. Of course, as mentioned I think by the member for Finniss, no-one will miss some of the additions from perhaps the 1970s which, by the look of them, were not exactly a positive step.

However, I want to take issue with some of the contributions of members opposite. First, I point out that both Liberal Party committee members (the members for Finniss and Unley) supported the committee's report, which was unanimous for this expenditure of public money. However, we have had three Liberal Party members be rather critical in their comments about the use of this money, particularly the member for Finniss, who questioned the validity of the expenditure of this $8.74 million, referring to the users of this building as a 'small interest group'. I want to set the record straight on that.

Mr Pengilly: I said I thought it may be a bit too elitist. I didn't say that.

The Hon. P.L. WHITE: Well, I wrote down 'small interest group'. If I have misquoted you, I apologise, but I do not think I did. We will check. He also said that it is a factor of the ego of the Premier that this has come about. I want to address that, because I pay full tribute to the Premier's role in this project. I have visited the Royal Institution of Great Britain, and I was also science minister when thinker in residence Baroness Susan Greenfield came to Adelaide for the first time (she was here for two visits, of course). This Stock Exchange project has come out of that connection and I want to explain the significance of it.

As the member for Norwood explained, this building will also house the Australian Science Media Centre and will be used by students and members of the public. Its whole focus is on improving maths and science in South Australia—in our schools and tertiary institutions—and awareness in the community, as well as skills enhancement in the areas of maths and science in South Australia which is a very important priority of this government. So I would think the expenditure of $9 million for such a worthy aim is well placed.

I congratulate the Premier, and I congratulate the current (and probably the previous) minister of science—there have been two since my experience who have had a role in this. The building will be open to the public. It is significant to South Australia for its history, including its connection with the Braggs and with the Royal Institution, which is an incredibly powerful connection. The Royal Institution is a very well-funded, privately-funded institution that has done much for Britain's standing in science and mathematics. So, we hope that this facility will aid our capacity in science and maths in South Australia.

I do not often mention individual public servants, but Linda Cooper, who worked for me when I was in the science portfolio and is now in the Premier's department, is one of the real drivers. She is a very energetic woman with lots of ideas, who talks frequently with Baroness Susan Greenfield and has played a major role. I pay tribute to her energy in helping this project come to fruition. It is a good project, and I think it will have a lasting and important impact on science and maths-related skills in this state.

Ms CICCARELLO (Norwood) (11:29): I commend this project to the house. I had also written down that this is certainly not going to be an elitist institution; it is something that will be available to everyone in South Australia and, indeed, Australia. Its aim is to enhance the appreciation of maths and science in South Australia and Australia through its communications and media centre. The Bragg Initiative will endeavour to make science and maths as popular in the daily lives of young people, as are sports and arts.

The member for Taylor did raise the issue of the carpet, on which we did focus quite considerably when looking at the centre. I was speaking to the Minister for Tourism last night and she told me that she has been involved with the refurbishment of the centre. She indicated to me last night that the loss of the carpet was of concern to her because it was in such good condition. That carpet will be divided into—I cannot remember the exact measurements—sizable pieces and sold off to people because it is in very good condition; and that, also, will bring an income to the institution.

I do commend the project to the house. It is the first time in 209 years that the Royal Institution has agreed to have a branch, shall we say, in another country. Based upon the evidence presented to it and pursuant to section 12C of the Parliamentary Committees Act 1999, the Public Works Committee recommends the proposed public work.

Motion carried.