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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-11-03 Daily Xml
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Tea Tree Plaza Car Parking

Ms SAVVAS (Newland) (14:25): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier update the house on the government's election commitment to stop paid parking at Tea Tree Plaza and any views about the issue?

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:25): I would like to thank the member for Newland for her question. I'm very happy to inform the member for Newland that we have kept our promise to the people of the north-eastern suburbs of Adelaide. That is really important, because we know that residents in the north-eastern suburbs, that shoppers in the north-eastern suburbs, that small business owners in the north-eastern suburbs really care about this matter.

There is a cost-of-living crisis going on at the moment throughout the nation, and we on this side of the house take our responsibility to try to assist where we can very, very seriously. I accept that there is a point of difference between the Labor Party and the Liberal Party of South Australia on this issue. I accept that we care about families and cost-of-living challenges, and I accept that the Liberal Party only care about Westfield's bottom line.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Point of order, sir.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! There is a point of order from the member for Morialta. Member for Chaffey, your colleague is seeking to raise a point of order, which I will hear under 134.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Standing order 98: the Premier is debating.

The SPEAKER: I will keep the Premier's contribution closely in mind and listen carefully.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: We made a commitment to the people of the north-eastern suburbs at the election. This mattered not just to the member for Newland but I know it also mattered deeply to the member for King. Both of those hardworking local MPs have been campaigning on this issue particularly hard, along with the member for Wright and the member for Torrens and the member for Florey. Collectively, they have ensured that the people of the north-east have had their voices heard and we have been able to secure the passage of this legislation.

I will just take, for instance, the words of a Coles West Lakes worker by the name of Caitlin, who said regarding this particular change:

I often need to park in the Westfield parking, sometimes having to pay up to $35 [per hour]—

Sorry, this is a lady from West Lakes who currently has to endure the regime of boom gates—

because I'm unable to move my car on breaks—

An honourable member: Per hour?

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: Per day, sorry—

I don't feel safe walking from the staff car park to the back entrance at Coles when I finish at 10pm at night either.

This is the sort of situation that potentially could have faced someone at Tea Tree Plaza if Westfield had an unfettered right to charge people parking. Of course, I also know there are community members who have spoken up against this. This is what one community member had to say, and I quote:

Well, I certainly don't support the recent news that Tea Tree Plaza are looking to charge customers and staff to park here at the shopping centre Tea Tree Plaza.

The same community member went on to say:

I don't support paid parking here at Tea Tree Plaza. It's an impost on the community and the North East. It's bad for customers and its bad for the many people who work here at the shopping centre.

We agree with that person who, of course, is none other than the former member for Newland, Mr Richard Harvey. Now, unfortunately for Mr Harvey—

An honourable member:DDoctor.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: Dr Harvey.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for West Torrens! Member for Chaffey!

Mr Whetstone interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Chaffey is warned. The Premier has the call.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: Unfortunately for Dr Harvey, his advocacy skills to persuade the broader Liberal Party that this is something worth doing something about weren't successful. On this side of the house, we do have strong representation of the north-eastern suburbs that is able to advocate for a position accordingly. The introduction of this change means something to a lot of people—thousands of people in the north-eastern suburbs.

We are very comfortable with the fact that we have delivered something for them, but, more than that, we are really comfortable with the fact that at the next state election everyone will know, everyone on the ground will know: if you want to stop boom gates from being installed at Westfield Tea Tree Plaza, you've got to vote Labor because if you vote Liberal they are coming back. That's their position.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Point of order, sir.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! There is a point of order from the member for Morialta.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: The Premier is debating, making stuff up. It's just inappropriate.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! There is a point of order from the member for West Torrens.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Morialta! The member for Chaffey knows better.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order: the deputy leader has accused the Premier of misleading the parliament. I ask him to withdraw and apologise immediately.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I will first resolve the point of order raised by the member for Morialta. I observe that the question was particularly broad, so was the answer, but within the terms of the question, which may have been crafted to ensure a wide response to all policy issues. In respect of the request to withdraw, in fact, it has not come from the Premier himself. I am not sure if it was directed at the member for West Torrens but, in order to resolve it, it may be that the member for Morialta wishes to withdraw and we can proceed with the opposition's question time.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Yes, sir, I am pleased to comply. I withdraw.

The SPEAKER: Very well.

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