National Trust

Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:41): My question is to the Minister for Environment and Water. Why is the minister requiring the National Trust to leave Ayers House? With your leave, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Dr CLOSE: The National Trust has opposed the minister's record on heritage, including the initial decision to demolish the Waite Gatehouse, the decision to remove Shed 26 from provisional listing on the Heritage Register and the decision to seek to revoke the charitable trust and conservation park status of Martindale Hall, and is now being told it will no longer be able to be based in Ayers House.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Minister for Environment and Water) (14:42): I thank the deputy leader for her question. The National Trust—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Elizabeth is warned for a second time.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: —of South Australia, as the deputy leader alludes to, have had a long history of involvement in Ayers House. They have for some time had their headquarters at Beaumont House, and in more recent times have made an announcement that they are going to move those headquarters to the North Adelaide Baptist Church.

We think, because of the very strategic location that Ayers House occupies on North Terrace, obviously just across the road from Lot Fourteen, which is really the most strategic piece of real estate within the CBD, there is great opportunity to see a renaissance of Ayers House. We have made no secret of our great interest in investing in and transforming Ayers House and giving it that role as a great heritage building within South Australia, reflecting on its history and giving it a present day imperative as well.

I have been talking to the National Trust, as the responsible minister for that property for some time, about their future at Ayers House. I have made no secret that the state government was looking for an opportunity to reinvigorate that property and we are moving to do so.