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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-09-28 Daily Xml
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PARKS COMMUNITY CENTRE

Mrs REDMOND (Heysen—Leader of the Opposition) (14:45): My question is to the Premier. When the Premier was out 'reconnecting with the community' after the March 2010 election, did the users of the Parks Community Centre ask him to close the centre?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier was asked the question.

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) (14:45): I remember when the Liberal government moved to close the Parks High School, with 70 students with disabilities.

Mr Pisoni: What did Don Dunstan say?

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Unley!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: We have heard about their word before, like their word before the 1997 election that they would never, ever, ever sell ETSA, full stop—that is what they said.

The SPEAKER: Point of order, the deputy leader.

Mr WILLIAMS: The point of order is relevance. The question was very, very succinct, and it was very pointed: it is about the decision to close the Parks Community Centre.

Members interjecting:

Mr WILLIAMS: The question was whether that policy came from the 'reconnection', or whether you knew about it before the election—that is what it was about.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, there will be no quarrels across the floor! Premier, could you answer the question.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: Thank you. The Minister for Families and Communities and her department have had ongoing discussions with the Port Adelaide Enfield council. I know that in the past a generous offer was made to the council that would see much of the facility retained. That was rejected by the council, but if they wish to put an alternative proposal to the government, the minister's door is open.

Community facilities, like swimming pools, are a responsibility of local government in South Australia. The government wants better facilities for the people of the west than the rundown buildings that are currently in use. That is why we are investing in a new customer centre, new housing developments and new school facilities.

The Parks Community Centre comprises some 14 buildings, built between 28 and 32 years ago. The Parks centre was set up in the 1970s as an integrated education, health and recreational facility in one of the most disadvantaged communities. In 1996, the Brown Liberal government moved to close the Parks High School. I said at the time—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, there will be no quarrels across the floor!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Point of order: I would like to hear the answer to their question, even if they wouldn't. Interjections are out of order.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Including that one!

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: And that one!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: The Brown Liberal government closed the Parks High School and I said at the time that this would rip the heart out of the Parks and this has proven correct. Under this government—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. M.D. RANN: Do you want to hear an answer, or not?

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: Under this government, the Parks area has changed significantly in recent years. The Westwood Urban Regeneration and Community Development Project has seen the ratio of public housing in the area reduced from as much as 80 per cent in 1996 to just 25 per cent.

More than half a billion dollars has been spent to lift the lives of people in these suburbs, but during this time, the buildings at the Parks have deteriorated significantly. The Department for Families and Communities estimates that $16 million will be required over the next 10 years to maintain and replace buildings, plant and equipment. This is $16 million of taxpayers' money, just to keep old outdated buildings open. We want this money to be spent on services. Among the needs are the capital works on the stadium floor, pool filtration system and roof.

The state budget allocates $10 million to build a new service centre for Families SA, Disability SA and Housing SA staff in the western suburbs. The Department for Families and Communities will be consulting about possible locations. The new facility will be used to provide state government—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Listen to the Premier.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: —services to the people of the western suburbs. The Department for Families and Communities is in discussions with SA Health and the Department of Education and Children's Services about the continued provision of these services in the western suburbs. This decision means the Parks centre would close in about two years, and local NGOs have been given this notice.

The Port Adelaide Enfield council operates the Parks Community Centre with funding of $1.8 million per annum from the state government for library and other services. The state government has budgeted to cease this funding. The Port Adelaide Enfield council used the funding to provide community services that are generally the province of local government, not state government.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: It is the state facility. The minister has spoken to the Mayor about council's desire for a new library facility and possible sports ground.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: The council has long held the view that they do not—

The SPEAKER: Order! I am trying to hear the answer to this. If I counted every question that has come from that side this afternoon, we would be up to about 64 questions by now. If you want to hear the answer to the original question, yes; if you don't, the Premier can sit down and we will go on with the next question.

Mrs REDMOND: Point of order, Madam Speaker. I do want to hear the answer to the original question, but the original question was: did the people who use the Parks Community Centre ask the Premier when he was reconnecting with them after the election to close the centre? That was the question.

The SPEAKER: I understand your point but I do not uphold that point of order because the Premier is getting to the answer. I have been listening very carefully to what he is saying. This side is behaving as badly as the other side.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: As I pointed out, the minister has been in discussions with the council. The minister has spoken to the mayor about council's desire for a new library facility and, possibly, sports grounds. The council has long held the view that they do not want to operate the pool but, again, we are open to hear from them or any private person who wants to retain the pool. It is as simple as that. The state government will work with the council to assist them with the new library and an offer will be made of existing library stock and furniture to make the move easier. Similarly, the state government is happy to talk with council about sporting grounds and equipment if they want to take some facilities over.

The council has advised that they will work with the council sponsored organisations that make use of the facilities currently to find suitable centres to continue their activities. The other government and non-government services that are tenants of the Parks will have two years to relocate to alternative accommodation. DFC will work closely with the non-government tenants to assist them with their relocation.

We expect the sale of the Parks will raise $17 million. I can announce today that there is a $5 million contingency to offer council. The Adelaide Aquatic Centre is closed from March for renovations for about 20 weeks. Council sponsored NGOs, such as woodwork classes, etc., will be asked to vacate in six months because these areas will be closed. That is what we are doing. We are talking to the council who are the representatives of the people there in terms of facilities which in other areas of the state are offered and run by local government.

The SPEAKER: I will refer members to standing order—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Standing order 98 says that the member replies to the substance of the question, and I truly believe that is what the Premier was doing then. It was long, longwinded, but he was replying to the substance of the question. I take objection to the members of the opposition saying he was not. Just keep that in mind, that it replies to the substance of the question; they may not debate that they can do a full and comprehensive answer. I think that is what the Premier did in that case.

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