1 May 2025
The Hon. R.A. SIMMS (14:49): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question without notice to the Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing on the topic of the North Adelaide Golf Club.
Leave granted.
The Hon. R.A. SIMMS: Yesterday, in parliament, the government and some members of the crossbench voted in unison to block the release of any business case associated with the redevelopment of the North Adelaide Golf Course. During the debate it was unclear whether a business case even exists. It is also unclear how much taxpayer money will be spent on the project and any potential implications for the City of Adelaide. My question to the Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing therefore is:
- Is the minister aware of any business case associated with the redevelopment of the North Adelaide Golf Course?
- Has she seen it?
The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (Minister for Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Autism, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:50): I thank the member for his question. As we have stated before, there is a lot to achieve in this space. We need to make sure that LIV Golf has the opportunity to become an incredible event, one that we know is very popular already in South Australia and one that has the opportunity to continue to grow, and to not only provide support to the many people that are now falling in love with golf and seeing it as a sport that they want to participate in but also to support local businesses. There is a long way to go. It is very early on in the discussions and one that we look forward to continuing.
The Hon. R.A. SIMMS (14:51): Supplementary: as part of these discussions has the minister or anyone in the government entertained the idea of foreign investment?
The PRESIDENT: Minister, you talked about the discussions. I guess I can allow that.
The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (Minister for Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Autism, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:51): As I said, there are discussions continuing, and I am sure many people will continue to have the right discussions and be able to provide more information when it is available.
The Hon. R.A. SIMMS (14:52): Supplementary: I ask:
- Can I deduce from the minister's response to the original question that she has not seen the business case?
- If she hasn't seen it, why hasn't she?
- Isn't she the minister with responsibility for this project?
- Why has the government committed so much money when they haven't even seen a business case?
The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Simms, what the minister did not mention was 'business case' at all.