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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-05-03 Daily Xml
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ADELAIDE OVAL

Mrs REDMOND (Heysen—Leader of the Opposition) (14:53): My question is again to the Treasurer. When will the government make public the final cost of the Adelaide Oval redevelopment project?

The Hon. P.F. CONLON (Elder—Minister for Transport, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:53): Again, what I would say to you is that the final cost of the Adelaide Oval project will be known when we have selected an early contractor who will become the builder of that and give us a final price. Now, when that will be is a very good question—

Mr Williams: That is why we asked it.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: —yes, because when it will be will depend greatly upon the attitude of the Liberal opposition. I suspect I was going to get a question on this subject anyway, so I may as well make use of this one. We intend proceeding as quickly as possible to embrace that great enthusiasm and momentum that has been built up by the SACA vote last night. Can I pay tribute to the SACA members and the SACA board and Ian McLachlan for the job they have done in fending off the nay-sayers in bringing us to this great sense of momentum for this very important project for South Australia.

We will seek to take those registrations of interest, narrow them down to a short list, and get a final contractor and get a final price. We hope to do that by somewhere around the middle of this year. But, of course, we must bring to the parliament a piece of legislation which sets out the terms and conditions, rights of occupancy and use of the oval by cricket and football. If we have the support of the Liberal opposition on that we will turn this great dream of the reunification of the two codes in one place into a speedy reality. The opportunity to do that—and I guarantee as soon as we can draft that legislation we will have it here—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Unlike you we did not take the SACA vote for granted. You took it for granted that you could go out there and tell them, and frighten them, and then they would say no, but the truth is that South Australia has moved on past you nay-sayers, it has moved on past you. It is going to a new level. It does not listen to your shallow scaremongering, 'We can't do this; it'll be the end of the world.' It is not listening to you any more, and what I would say to you is listen to the SACA voters—

Mrs REDMOND: I rise on a point of order: standing order 98, on relevance. I asked a simple question about when we could expect the public to be told what the final cost of the project is going to be.

The SPEAKER: I uphold that point of order. I think the minister is starting to ramble and I am sure it is time he brought his answer to a close.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: I have said that we aim to do that in the most timely fashion possible. It is not a debating point to say that the speed with which we can do that will rely upon the opposition shifting ground and listening to the people of South Australia and the SACA voters. If you get out of the way, we will get the legislation through, and we will get you a final price at the earliest possible point. So, it is in your hands. But let me say this—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: —what concerns me about getting a final price is that the position of the Liberal Party shifts from day to day on this. A few months ago they wanted a bigger, better, stand-alone, more expensive stadium. This week they don't want any money spent on stadiums—it is not the right priority. So, what position will they take? You couldn't find them with a search crew. If the Liberal opposition can support our state instead of themselves, we will get them an early price. All they have to do is allow us a speedy passage of the legislation.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! There will be no quarrels across the floor. You will go outside if you want a quarrel.

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