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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-11-27 Daily Xml
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Adelaide Oval Precinct

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:35): Supplementary arising from the answer and, I think, the Treasurer confirming that this hotel will be on the government's balance sheet and essentially be a government-owned hotel competing against the private sector. On that basis, the cost of doing business—what are the comparisons for this hotel and a private sector hotel? For instance, will this hotel have to pay land tax? Council rates? Are there any benefits that this hotel will get that the private sector doesn't enjoy, and how will the cost—

The Hon. J.M.A. Lensink: It's a very long supplementary.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: —of staying at this hotel be calculated in competition with the private sector?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (14:36): I think the leader's struggling a bit—

The PRESIDENT: Can I just mention, Leader of the Government, that I don't need advice—

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: I won't advise you—

The PRESIDENT: —from members of your own front bench. The Leader of the Opposition was giving context to a sensible and important question. I give you the call.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: Mr President, the leader's question in relation to land tax arrangements and the like—he would well know, because they are exactly the same arrangements as his government entered into when they provided the $535 million loan.

The Hon. K.J. Maher: But that oval wasn't competing against dozens of private enterprises.

The PRESIDENT: Leader of the Opposition, you have an opportunity for a further supplementary.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: Mr President, the leader asked the question, 'What advantages does this particular business have compared to others?' One of the advantages it has is that it has $535 million of sunk taxpayers' cost into magnificent surroundings at the Oval, which most other competitors won't have.

It has the advantage, Mr President, of $535 million of taxpayers' money going into the asset, together with an extra $40 million or so for a bridge across, connecting it to the salubrious highlights of the Casino and other establishments on the other side of the river, which many other businesses don't have as well. As a result of decisions taken by the former government, this particular business of running football, cricket and a stadium, together with roof climbs and golf lessons, or whatever it is—

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: And a coffee shop.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: —and coffee shops and restaurants, has significant advantages because of the decision the former government took, which the now government supported by way of legislation through the parliament, to establish what is now a magnificent Adelaide Oval redevelopment. In and of itself, it clearly has significant advantages in relation to it.

All of the arrangements in relation to taxation of the Adelaide Oval precinct are the same arrangements the former government either inherited or instituted through the legislation that was passed through the parliament. We have not amended the legislation, as is apparent; we have accepted the legislation and all of the existing arrangements.

Indeed, one of the concerns at that particular time, which has already been opined upon by a number of prominent Adelaide identities, is that this hotel, so I'm told, will not intrude any further onto the Adelaide Parklands precinct; it will be wholly self-contained, so I am informed, within the existing footprint of the existing Adelaide Oval.

So I readily acknowledge that this particular business, all encompassing as it is, as a result of decisions taken by the former Labor government, which we eventually supported through legislation, has significant advantage over many other competing businesses as a result of those particular decisions.

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