Adelaide Parklands

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. N.J. Centofanti:

1. That a select committee of the Legislative Council be established to inquire into and report on the management and preservation of the Adelaide Parklands, with particular reference to:

(a) whether the Adelaide Park Lands Act 2005 is achieving the statutory principles of the act, having regard to section 4 of the act;

(b) whether ministerial responsibility for the Parklands is sufficiently clear during decision-making processes;

(c) consideration of delegated powers for the Adelaide Park Lands Authority;

(d) ways in which the area of green, publicly accessible open space within the Parklands can be expanded;

(e) initiatives which would enhance the biodiversity of the Parklands;

(f) consideration of recommendations about legislative reform;

(g) the appropriateness of the government's decision to relocate SAPOL from the Thebarton Police Barracks to Park 21 West: Golden Wattle Park/Mirnu Wirra;

(h) the benefits of state and/or World Heritage listing for the Parklands; and

(i) any other related matters.

2. That this council permits the select committee to authorise the disclosure or publication, as it sees fit, of any evidence or documents presented to the committee prior to such evidence being presented to the council.

(Continued from 17 May 2023.)

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (16:38): The Labor government has a long and proud history of returning land to the Adelaide Parklands. Wherever there is a decision made to locate important infrastructure, like the new Women's and Children's Hospital and the new Adelaide Aquatic Centre, we always aim to ensure there is a zero net loss of accessible Parklands, while considering ways to improve access and amenities to surrounding areas.

The Malinauskas Labor government has delivered on its election commitment to fully restore Parklands protection to Helen Mayo Park (Park 27) by abolishing zoning changes made by the former Liberal government to build a $662 million basketball stadium on this site. This includes investing $1.5 million to revitalise degraded areas of the Helen Mayo Park.

The Adelaide Park Lands Act 2005 (the act) establishes the legislative framework that promotes the special status attributes and character of the Adelaide Parklands. The act provides for the protection of the Parklands and their management as a world-class asset to be preserved for the benefit of present and future generations.

The act ensures that the City of Adelaide, also referred to in this as the council, and the state government are committed to protecting and enhancing the Adelaide Parklands for the benefit of all South Australians. The act also establishes the Kadaltilla, also known as the Adelaide Park Lands Authority. I will be referring to it as the Kadaltilla, as the council responsible for the Parklands.

Kadaltilla plays an important role in advising both the council and the state government on the protection, management, enhancement and promotion of the Adelaide Parklands. Kadaltilla's current Parklands management strategy includes objectives and outcomes that aim to enhance biodiversity and nominate the Parklands for world heritage designation.

On Kadaltilla's advice, the government supports the council's bid for world heritage status for Adelaide and its surrounds and have written to the federal government in support of the bid to acknowledge and promote Adelaide, the Parklands, our history and the global influence of the city's layout.

To date, Kadaltilla has not advised the state government that the act is deficient in achieving its statutory principles, nor recommended that legislative reform or delegated powers be considered. The government recognises the strong community sentiment regarding how highly valued this open space is to all South Australians and visitors and does not believe that a select committee is required to explore the vital role the Parklands plays in our city and across the state.

The Hon. R.A. SIMMS (16:41): I am really dismayed to hear that the government are not going to be supporting this select committee. I am really dismayed, but it is part of, unfortunately, what we are seeing at the moment: a habit from this Labor government when it comes to the Parklands, of being advocates when in opposition, but when they find themselves on the red leather benches suddenly things change. When they find themselves on the government benches things change.

One of the terms of reference in this inquiry is the benefits that would flow from state heritage listing. Let's not forget that back in 2022, prior to the state election, I put forward a bill to this place that would add the Adelaide Parklands to the State Heritage Register. It was supported by the then Liberal government and the Labor opposition and, indeed, every party in this place. I had considered that there was then a real opportunity after the election to get this legislation through but, sadly, when the Labor Party found themselves in government they reneged on that commitment, and that is deeply disappointing.

Since then, we have seen a range of raids on our Parklands, and I think it is a case of saying one thing in opposition and doing something very different in government. That is why the Greens are supportive of this inquiry, because it would provide an opportunity to address the full range of issues relating to the Parklands, in particular relating to heritage listing—one of the passions that the Greens have—but also the process around the selection of the police barracks for SAPOL and, indeed, I have engaged with the opposition around suggesting some potential inclusions, and I welcome the fact that they have incorporated those.

One of those is an examination of the role of the Adelaide Park Lands Authority and its powers, and I think there is a real opportunity to give the Adelaide Park Lands Authority more teeth when it comes to managing our public space to ensure that the Parklands are protected. I should say both major parties have a bad track record when it comes to managing the Parklands, but I welcome this effort by the Liberal Party to potentially make amends, and to look into some of the issues affecting the Parklands and their management going forward. I would certainly welcome the opportunity to be a part of the committee should it be established.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (16:43): I would like to thank the Hon. Robert Simms for his contribution and support of the committee. I acknowledge the Hon. Emily Bourke's contribution, but I am disappointed again with the government's response. I think if the shoe was on the other foot, the government, when in opposition, would scream blue murder if the government did not support the establishment of a select committee, particularly one into the Adelaide Parklands.

As the Hon. Robert Simms noted, the government has developed a habit of voting one way and then flipping, doing a complete 180, when they are on the opposite side of this chamber. They have also developed a habit of voting against various select committees, noting that they voted against the honourable member's Select Committee on Public and Active Transport. Fortunately, the rest of the chamber saw sense, and the honourable member did an exceptional job chairing that committee.

Again, it is an incredible shame that the government has not provided their support for this motion to establish a select committee to consider the protection and preservation of Adelaide's unique Parklands. We know that the South Australian Heritage Council and the Adelaide City Council are supportive of the formal recognition of the Adelaide Parklands and CBD layout as a State Heritage Area, and the proposed select committee would give further consideration to this, along with World Heritage listing for the Parklands.

Given Labor's commitment prior to the 2022 state election to 'protect Adelaide's unique Parklands', the opposition and the community are justified in their surprise at Labor's change in position, noting the repeated announcements by this current Labor government to erode the green open space that is available to the community in the Parklands. With those comments, I commend the motion to the council.

The council divided on the motion:

Ayes 9

Noes 10

Majority 1

AYES

NOES

PAIRS

Motion thus negatived.