Netherby Kindergarten (Variation of Waite Trust) Bill

Extract from Hansard

Legislative Council
14 March 2001

Mike Elliott
Leader Australian Democrats
Member of the Legislative Council

Parliament Index
2001 Autumn Sitting Index
Browse by Subject
Search all Democrats material
About the SA Parliament
Hansard on line

The Hon. M.J. ELLIOTT: I was a member of the first select committee that looked at the Netherby kindergarten as well as the one that is just now reporting. Other than the end result, it has been an unsatisfactory process: the process in between has been highly unsatisfactory. Prior to the other committee sitting, members in this place were told that there was no other possible site for the Netherby kindergarten. The question was asked, `What about up at the Waite campus rather than on the Waite trust land where it currently resides?'

At that stage members were told that that was not possible, that it had been explored and so on. When the last committee reported, I indicated that I thought we had little choice and that there did not seem to be anything else available. Also, as I have said in this place on many occasions, I lamented the fact that we had lost some green space and talked about the fact that once green space has been alienated it is almost impossible to get it back.

Following that report I was disappointed when the local member decided to quote selectively from my speech to imply that I actually supported the kindergarten staying where it was. He highlighted a section where I said that I did not think we had any choice and chose not to pick up the fact that I was opposed to it-not that I had any say in it at the time-being on that sort of land. I have consistently opposed the alienation of green space: anyone who knows my record would know that.

I found it very annoying, and frankly very close to dishonest, to try to represent me as supporting the kindergarten having been in that place. But miracle of all miracles, since that time, thanks to the pressure of locals and the people who thought that the Waite trust should count for something, the government suddenly discovered that it was possible for it to go somewhere else. Indeed, the kindergarten has already been relocated, and that appears to be a resounding success.

Clearly, the old kindergarten was run down: that was one of the reasons why the previous select committee was set up-to provide an opportunity to have it refurbished. Since we thought it had nowhere else to go we thought that at least allowing it to be refurbished was reasonable.

We now find that the same local member who decided to have a dig at me-and I suppose by inference other members of this place, including government members who supported the previous report-is bringing in a bill which has the effect of guaranteeing that this land is returned to the Waite trust. Well, it is nice politics. I am not opposed to it and I am glad that the land is now inalienable- although what does `inalienable' mean? It means until the next time the government wants a piece. We only have to look at the Adelaide parklands to see what inalienable actually means. I am more than happy to support the legislation, although very disappointed by the politics that was behind it.