Question Time

ADELAIDE OVAL

Mrs REDMOND (Heysen—Leader of the Opposition) (14:15): My question is to the Treasurer. Does the Treasurer now concede that the Adelaide Oval upgrade, which includes a FIFA compliant stadium, footbridge and car parking as promised on 2 December 2009, cannot be built for $535 million, with the cost now exceeding $700 million?

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Treasurer, Minister for Federal/State Relations, Minister for Defence Industries) (14:16): That is simply not correct, and the leader knows it not to be correct. The government has already said that the footbridge will be part of the overall Torrens precinct. The figure—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: —mentioned in the paper today—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: —is an extremely large figure for what is a very large structure, and I am sure that by the time my good friend and colleague the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, who will be responsible for delivering the project—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: I will be sad. It will be a sad moment for me to hand over my baby, the Adelaide Oval redevelopment, to the Minister for Infrastructure, but I know that it will be in good hands. The minister has already indicated to me that he thinks that the footbridge is both too large and too expensive. With respect to the issue of the tennis centre, as I think Mr Demetriou and others and I think I have said from time to time, the architects can plan and design all they like, and it is a very exciting plan if one wanted to fund it, but we don't, and we won't. It is not central or critical to the upgrade of the oval, because the Adelaide Oval—

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: The Crows? I will wait until I see the final designs, but the final designs, I am sure, will show a more than stunning facility for Crows supporters after the game—and Port Power fans. When we have a derby, I think we will get both lots in there. I wonder whether it will be big enough to have both Power and the Crows in the shed after the game.

Mr Bignell interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: The Ramsgate Hotel, as the member for Mawson says. Perhaps not. Those elements are not part of the redevelopment as it stands. On the issue of the car park, we have said many, many times that we are not funding an underground car park. If they wish to have an underground car park, they can either do it themselves, bring in a private sector partner or have a JV with the Adelaide City Council for a park-and-ride, but it will not be funded by the government.

We have said '$535 million', and I am very confident that we will see an outstanding design which will give Adelaide a stadium of such quality. However, I will say that we are very close to the crunch point where the Liberal Party will have to decide: does it stand in the way of bringing AFL football back to the city? Ultimately, you will stand in the way of bringing football back into the centre of this city. This government is determined to deliver AFL football back into the city. It is what football wants and it is what the public wants. At some point, the Liberal Party will have to stop their nitpicking, knocking, criticising and obstructionist policies.

Madam Speaker, can I, with hushed tones, just say how serious this issue is becoming for football in this state and what serious damage is being done to the sport that so many South Australians love. This is what I am advised are the words spoken by Mr Leigh Whicker yesterday before the committee. He said:

I need to make a statement, Mr Chairman. The ongoing political debate has caused irreparable damage to AAMI Stadium brand, the confidence of its members and fans, and a great deal of anxiety amongst the Crows members.

Mr Whicker goes on to say:

In fact, the whole football community in South Australia is in a state of uncertainty and, from my point of view, this is unforgivable.

So, at the end of the day, the knockers in the Liberal Party, the destroyers in the Liberal Party, the members of the Liberal Party—because make no mistake—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Make no mistake. I know the Leader of the Opposition is not a fan of football and had not been to Football Park. Have you actually been to Football Park for a game, yet? Have you watched a game?

Mrs Redmond interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: One game. There happen to be a lot of South Australians who love football and want it back in the city. Liberal Party, stand aside.