ADELAIDE OVAL

The Hon. I.F. EVANS (Davenport) (14:43): My question is to the Treasurer. Why did the Treasurer say in his ministerial statement of 25 May that 'at the time of the original decision cost estimates provided by SACA and the SANFL were based on preliminary concept designs', when Leigh Whicker yesterday told the Budget and Finance Committee that 'the SANFL had no involvement in the preliminary plans or costings'?

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Treasurer, Minister for Federal/State Relations, Minister for Defence Industries) (14:43): The government's negotiations were with Mr Andrew Demetriou, representing the interests of the AFL and the SANFL. Mr Demetriou took the role and requested that he be the negotiating person with government and that he would, in the process of that, deal with matters that were affecting the SANFL. The design and costings, it is my understanding, were the work of former prominent federal Liberal cabinet minister, Ian McLachlan (whom members opposite do not seem to hold in such high esteem any more); that the designs had been the product of work undertaken between the SACA as the oval managers, owners and operators and the AFL, where costings were prepared, I think earlier in 2009, further updated in July 2009, to the best of my understanding; and that was overseen by the AFL for and on behalf of the SANFL.

What I do know is that Mr Demetriou was in regular contact with the SANFL. I know that, in early November 2009, I think it was, there was a two-day workshop of the SACA, the SANFL and the AFL regarding Adelaide Oval. I was not a party to that meeting, but one would assume that they would have discussed designs, size and various other aspects of that project.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: The figure of $450 million was a figure provided to me, as the point of contact with Mr Demetriou, on behalf of the AFL, the SANFL and SACA as the request—the ask—from government.