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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-10-28 Daily Xml
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THINKER IN RESIDENCE

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (15:18): I have a supplementary question. Did the government seek any advice from Professor Lee in relation to the location of the new Royal Adelaide Hospital and the suitability of that parcel of land for such a development?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (15:19): Those decisions had been made well before Professor Lee's residency, I understand. However, Professor Lee—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: As I said, the decisions relating to the Royal Adelaide Hospital predated Professor Lee's visit. I look forward to her report. What I think is a tragedy for this state is that the Liberal opposition has decided to end the Thinkers in Residence program. The tragedy is that the Liberal Party has decided that it can do without the views of these international experts and the views of someone who is recognised as having the finest architecture school in the United States, who has devoted a lot of time to improving our knowledge and giving us guidance as to how the city might go forward. They think they have all the expertise opposite.

The Hon. T.J. Stephens interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: It's pathetic. These are the people who think they have all the answers for Adelaide. The fact that—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: While we are on the subject of urban design, I think it was very refreshing to hear this morning that the Prime Minister has announced that the commonwealth government will again be re-engaged in the question of the future of our cities. If one looks at when Perth electrified its railway system, and the Subiaco development, one will see that it was funding under the Better Cities program of the Keating government. When did Brisbane have its rail electrification? It was during the Whitlam government. Liberal governments have totally neglected urban development in this country. They have totally neglected our cities. I am delighted that we now have a federal government that will support the higher quality of our cities.

As I have said, we have had this very significant investment. In particular, the electrification of our railway system is something that is long overdue in this city; it is absolutely necessary for the future development of our city. It is very refreshing that we now have a federal government that is interested in urban design. It just shows by contrast how members opposite and their party totally neglected this area during their years in government.

As I have said, the fact that we had someone of the calibre of Professor Lee here to provide advice to our community in relation to urban design and improving the built form in this city was terrific. I think the fact that it should be so dismissed by members opposite is a sad reflection on where their priorities lie.

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