House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1)
2014-06-03 Daily Xml

Contents

Riverbank Precinct

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:28): I have a further supplementary. Given that the functions of the authority, as laid out in the government's own regulations—in fact, the very first one—states, 'To make recommendations to government about major infrastructure proposals and funding mechanisms for the development of land within the precinct', can the minister advise why he will not be seeking a recommendation from the authority regarding the final decision regarding the Festival Plaza area?

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice Reform, Minister for Planning, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Minister for Industrial Relations) (14:29): Can I just try to put this into perspective for the honourable member: the issue about the car park has been a live matter for some considerable period of time. Discussions have been going on between the government, the Adelaide Casino, Mr Walker, Festival Centre and whatever. They have been going on for some time. We are at a point in time where we want those matters finally resolved and to just get on with it.

It is not the case that we want in any way to further delay the progress of any of those matters by waiting for there to be the formal approval of these things by a body whose approval is unnecessary in any event. That said, I repeat that Mr McEvoy has been given a complete and comprehensive briefing about what's going on in that space. I have met with Mr McEvoy about this as recently as last week and Mr McEvoy is engaged in the process.

The SPEAKER: The member for Reynell.