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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2017-11-29 Daily Xml
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Riverbank Precinct

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:43): My question is to the Premier. Why for the past five years has his government failed to ensure that its commitment to the Adelaide Riverbank development was conducted properly, such that, according to the Auditor-General, 'the integrity and probity of the process could not be demonstrated'?

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (14:43): I thank the leader for his question. As I was saying in one of my earlier comments, the Auditor-General's Report does make it clear that the government had been provided with advice that the agreement it entered into with Walker Corporation did deliver 'value for the state' and that there was also expert external advice that was provided by consultants that found that the terms of the agreement were 'considerably in favour of the government and therefore commercially defensible.'

In that context, albeit as we have already discussed certainly at the early stages of the process, there was an undocumented series of meetings, principally the one that we had discussed involving the former chief executive. Certainly, the outcome of the deal has been concluded in a manner that not only delivers a development that has in parts already commenced but one that will provide a substantial contribution and opportunity to improve the visitation experience of our city.

Yes, as the leader said in his question, it did take a long time. There is no shirking that, that the process did take a long time, particularly from the issuing of the expression of interest, which I recall being in 2012, to the reaching of the agreement and the key commercial terms in 2016. That is a relatively long time for that to occur. It's implicit, I think, in the report the criticisms in the very early stages about recordkeeping and that, because of the inability for the Auditor-General to cite certain records, he was unable to have it demonstrated to him the rigorousness of the procurement process and the probity arrangements.

Certainly, the outcome of the arrangements that were entered into was, as stated in that report, good value and in favour of the state. It has been done in a way in which not only are we entering into an arrangement for a car park and associated plaza development, but it is being delivered in a way that enables SkyCity to proceed with their development and it enables them to reach an agreement with Walker so that they can have several hundred car parks reserved for their use. It also means that deliveries, let alone visitation, can occur upon its completion to the Festival Centre, to the Convention Centre, to the Intercontinental Hotel, to SkyCity as well as to the parliament precinct.

Mr Knoll: I think I'm going to have bedding for my chickens for the next 15 years.

The SPEAKER: The member for Schubert is called to order. Leader.

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