Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-12-02 Daily Xml

Contents

UNIVERSITY PROPERTIES

In reply to the Hon. C.V. SCHAEFER (13 October 2009).

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy): The Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education is advised:

1. The Government of South Australia was not consulted in the decision to sell the properties concerned.

2. The Government of South Australia is not of the belief that Adelaide University has breached the intent of the legacies. The University of Adelaide has advised there were two bequests:

The Mortlock estate (in the mid 1980s) was bequeathed to the University and the State Library. The University elected to retain the Martindale farm and bought out the share of the property allocated to the library and therefore owns the property outright. The Mortlock estate directed the University to use proceeds from the estate in connection with the Waite Agricultural Research Institute of the University of Adelaide.

In the late 1960s the J.S. Davies estate left the Munduney property at Spalding and the Moralana property at Hawker in a shared bequest of five-sixths to the University of Adelaide and the other sixth to Prince Alfred College.

In this bequest there is a wish expressed (with no legally binding requirements) that the University use its proceeds from the bequest to promote research relevant to cattle and especially to beef cattle.

3. The sale of all three properties will take place as soon as commercially possible.

4. It is intended that the sale of the Martindale, Munduney and Moralana properties will fund the development of agricultural programs and agricultural research infrastructure within the University of Adelaide.

5. The University of Adelaide has advised that it is hoped that the new owners of the Martindale, Munduney and Moralana properties will engage all existing employees in their current roles. All legal obligations to existing employees will be met.

6. Roseworthy farm will continue to be viable within the University of Adelaide stable of agricultural assets.

7. The University of Adelaide has advised it has made no request and has not entertained any request for the antivenene flock to be moved elsewhere. The University is confident that this function will remain at its existing location.