City Of Adelaide

This speech indicates support for a bill regarding the City of Adelaide.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: I wish to make a brief contribution in favour of this bill. I think it is important to address some misinformation within the community. Certain sectors of the community have tried to paint this as the City of Adelaide looking after its own interests. In fact, there has been a moratorium on elected members discussing the matter of wards. As the Hon. David Ridgway stated during his contribution in favour of this bill, this issue was raised during the election by our candidate for the seat of Adelaide, Diana Carroll, who was assiduous in raising issues of concern to a number of people, in particular, the South-Eastern City Residents Association and the North Adelaide Society, who had expressed their support for the reintroduction of wards.

It is interesting to note that, in the current representation of the City of Adelaide, North Adelaide has done relatively well with a number of councillors coming from that area. However, I think it is important to put on the record that the city council has been precluded from even discussing this issue and for that reason has been unable to institute a review before this time. I also put on the record that the North Adelaide Society had a particularly strong interest in the Le Cornu site, which has reared its head again in the media. The Liberal Party gave its complete support to not allowing that proposal to receive major development status because it is clearly in breach of Adelaide City Council's own PAR. I commend the bill to the council.