Thebarton Police Barracks

Mr COWDREY (Colton) (15:21): My question is again to the Treasurer. What is the estimated total cost of decommissioning the Thebarton Police Barracks site, and how much is anticipated that their new facility or facilities will cost taxpayers?

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee—Treasurer) (15:21): Largely, that will be—

Mr Pederick: Brick by brick or D9?

The SPEAKER: Member for Hammond!

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: —determined by the response we get from the market for those people who are responsible for conducting the work to decommission those buildings.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Hurtle Vale!

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: For example, when we—

Mr Tarzia interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Hartley!

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: —went out to market to decommission the old Royal Adelaide Hospital buildings, there were various estimates that Renewal SA had at the time, and then of course the ultimate estimate, and that is the one that you get back from the market. So the accurate figure for that we are not going to know until we get a response from the market. There has been an allowance, of course, as there has been an allowance for escalation. We are not going to go into chapter and verse as to what every component of the construction cost is going to be because of course—

Mr Tarzia: Why not? It's public money.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Why not? For somebody who's got no experience in delivering projects of course you would say, 'Why not?' That's because you have to engage the market and ask them for their best price in undertaking the work.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: I realise that that is breaking news for those opposite because they did so little in four years. They troubled the private sector so little in getting projects to market, but having had some experience in infrastructure delivery and development in the South Australian Labor Party—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Hammond!

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: —we will be doing this diligently, carefully, and getting the best value for taxpayers.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!