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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2008-10-29 Daily Xml
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AAMI STADIUM

Mr PISONI (Unley) (14:51): My question is to the Premier. Before signing a cheque for $100 million to be spent on AAMI Stadium on the basis that the venue be FFA and FIFA compliant for international soccer fixtures, what due diligence did the Premier require to ensure that taxpayer funding would achieve that desired result? An FFA audit is due in the next two weeks. However, Mr Ben Buckley, FFA Chief Executive, has said publicly that AAMI is unsuitable for soccer.

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (14:52): Can you remember what John O'Neill said? John O'Neill actually staged the Rugby World Cup in 2003, I think it was. He then became the head of soccer and took the Socceroos to glory in the World Cup in soccer. This is the thing. We are talking about having a $1.2 billion expenditure on one stadium, and apparently $500 million or $600 million on the other stadium. We must have that so that we can be FIFA compliant in case we win the World Cup for 2018 (or, as most commentators are saying, 2022). Given that you are always given eight years' notice, you are saying that we must make that commitment now for two games that might never happen.

The fact is that if this is how you intend to run the state (if you should ever be elected any time in the future), you are prepared to say to any crowd, 'We'll give you what you want.' Whether it is the teachers' union with a $2.8 billion bid, or whatever it is, you say—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: —the one thing. Because you think you have got your own house newspaper, what you believe you can get away with is never being asked how you will fund things; because ultimately, when it comes down to the election campaign and when there is a debate (which I am looking forward to), I will look the Leader of the Opposition in the eyes and say, 'How are you going to pay for this?'

The SPEAKER: Order! There is a point of order.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: Because that is the one thing you refuse to tell the people of this state.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier will take his seat.

Mr WILLIAMS: The Premier said that he is looking forward to a debate. However, I think he has already entered the debate, and that is out of order in question time.

The SPEAKER: Order! I think the Premier has completed his answer. The member for Giles.

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