Burnside Council

A question put forward to 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 for the City of Adelaide) regarding the Chelsea Cinema.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (14:55): Does the minister hold concerns that the extended process has allowed the Burnside council to continue to proceed down the path of selling the Chelsea Cinema against the wishes of the community?

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 for the City of Adelaide) (14:55): I have already spoken in this place about the issue of caretaker provisions with investigations. There are no caretaker provisions, so I have no power or authority to prevent the council from operating until an investigation has been completed. There are other matters and responses from council in relation to those findings, and my ministerial powers are limited by that. The council, by law, is entitled to continue to operate in terms of its daily business. In relation to any matters before it, the council is required to fulfil its obligations under the Local Government Act and a number of other pieces of legislation; so, unless the council fails to do that and another breach of some kind is found, there are no powers to intervene.