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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-03-26 Daily Xml
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SOUTH AUSTRALIAN JOCKEY CLUB

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Leader of the Opposition) (14:30): My question is to the Treasurer.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, the Minister for Correctional Services!

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH: What discussions has the Treasurer had with SAJC lobbyist Nick Bolkus regarding the payment of $5 million to the SAJC announced in May 2008, and the government's involvement in the sale of Cheltenham and the proposed permanent grandstand at Victoria Park?

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Treasurer, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Federal/State Relations) (14:31): The government, obviously, has had ongoing discussions with the SAJC and Mr Ploubidis. I cannot recall what conversations I may or may not have had with Nick Bolkus, or his business partner, Alexander Downer. Ian Smith, his other partner, is bringing some clients to see me next week. Is that okay? Are you right with that? Ian Smith and Alex can come to see me?

Mr Hamilton-Smith interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: You ask the questions, right.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: I am happy to meet with Senator Nick Bolkus, if he makes an appointment. I am happy to meet with his business partner—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: I am getting to it, Vickie. Why don't you just put a sock in it. I am happy to meet with Alexander Downer and their other partner, Ian Smith, which I am doing next week. If the Leader of the Opposition has any problem with that, so be it.

The SAJC, the government and the Motor Sport Board, it is no secret, had collaborated on a fixed permanent grandstand for Victoria Park. As history shows, I was wrong. Sometimes you have to be wrong to know that you were right.

The Hon. M.D. Rann: Sometimes to do what is right you have to admit you're wrong.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Sometimes to do what is right you have to admit that you have done wrong.

The Hon. M.D. Rann: Sometimes it is wrong to be right too soon.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Sometimes it is wrong to be right too soon. I have a lot of right coming into the future. The government then, of course, decided to proceed with the very good concept of a permanent structure—sorry, oops, slipped—a temporary structure, and the SAJC made a decision to vacate Victoria Park.

A request was made by the SAJC, from memory—I am not sure how it was put—if the government would be prepared, or be in a position, to assist it to build another grass track. I am not a great racing man, so I am not the best one to give technical advice. The SAJC asked if we were prepared to provide financial assistance for another track if it were to vacate Victoria Park, because the SAJC could not sustain itself at Victoria Park without a commitment by government to go ahead with a permanent stand, which, as members would recall, would have had what I thought was a terrific concept of night meetings and a lot of other races, which would have been brought in, I think, from the country to Victoria Park. Those plans could not proceed with a temporary stand.

The SAJC wished to consolidate on its site at Morphettville. A request was put to government, I thought it was a good idea, it was put to cabinet, cabinet agreed and the government provided the $5 million funding assistance. As to who I had those discussions with—I certainly had those discussions with Steve Ploubidis, but whether or not I had discussions with Nick Bolkus, frankly, I cannot recall.

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