North Adelaide Golf Course Redevelopment Business Case

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. R.A. Simms:

That there be laid upon the table of this council, within two sitting weeks of the passing of this resolution, by the Leader of the Government, the business case and any related documents regarding the proposed redevelopment of the North Adelaide Golf Course.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (16:20): 

I rise today to support the motion put forward by the Hon. Robert Simms. As we know, on 16 February 2025, the state Labor government announced plans to redevelop the North Adelaide Golf Course in order to host the LIV Golf tournament there from as early as 2027.

In my former role as the shadow minister for tourism and hospitality, I heard from many stakeholders from the Tourism Industry Council of South Australia and the Australian Hotels Association of South Australia that the LIV Golf tournament has brought significant economic benefits to South Australia, boosted tourism and showcased our beautiful city on an international stage.

While I support the continued hosting of the LIV Golf tournament, I am concerned about the apparent lack of transparency surrounding this redevelopment. There has been no business case shared, no costings provided, and even the Adelaide City Council, as the owners and operators of the course, are calling for more information.

I remember the days when we were discussing the university mergers and there was a joint committee, and similar practices by the Labor government in terms of lack of transparency and accountability certainly raised lots of questions. This lack of transparency raises important questions about whether this redevelopment aligns with the best interests of the community and the state of South Australia.

The impact on the Adelaide City Council and its residents is significant and cannot be overlooked. This motion calls on the government to make public the business case and related documents, which we believe the public needs to know. I believe in a transparent, accountable government, a government that shares why decisions make sense for the state. I urge the government to demonstrate this transparency by releasing the necessary information.

The Adelaide City Council has emphasised the importance of maintaining public ownership and operation of the golf course, ensuring no permanent fencing and minimising the loss of significant trees. These are valid concerns that deserve to be addressed openly and transparently, particularly independently as well, and such a select committee would certainly hope to do that. We must ensure that any redevelopment respects the heritage and environmental significance of the site, including the sacred Kaurna sites. The committee deserves to be informed and consulted on such important matters.

Furthermore, the honourable member has raised important questions about the legislative changes that might be required to achieve this redevelopment. Despite asking for clarity, there has been no information provided on what these legislative changes might entail. It is crucial for the government to release any draft legislation they are considering so that members of the community and members of parliament can form views on behalf of the community.

Transparency in this process is essential to ensure that all stakeholders are aware of the potential impacts and can participate in the discussion. While I wholeheartedly support the continued hosting of the LIV Golf tournament and acknowledge the benefits that it brings to our state, I urge the government to uphold the principles of accountability and transparency and such a select committee will hopefully be able to get the business case published or given to members of parliament for consideration, along with any related documents for the North Adelaide Golf Course redevelopment. With those remarks, I support the motion.