Published June 2023
Peter Malinauskas must publicly reveal the potential sites for the new police barracks after his refusal to do so - and his suspicious secret keeping - caught the attention of the Ombudsman, who says doing so won’t negatively impact commercial negotiations.
The Ombudsman’s determination - which was handed down yesterday - follows months of delays with Freedom of Information requests regarding the new police barracks sites.
SAPOL initially declined access to 21 documents, but the Ombudsman has ruled that 11 should be released in full and another eight partially - including the 15 proposed sites.
He said the proposed relocation sites are in the public interest and rejected arguments that the announcement of the options would impede the Malinauskas Labor Government’s ability to obtain property at a competitive price.
“I am not satisfied that the disclosure of the documents would prejudice that competitiveness. As discussed above, I consider that as the site relocation options, and potential sites for State government purchase, have been revealed in the public domain no claim of prejudice can be made out,” the Ombudsman said.
“In light of my views above I vary the agency’s determination.”
The preferred location for the police barracks is Park 21 West in the south Park Lands, but the Opposition has been told Ellis Park (Park 24) is being investigated as a strong possibility.
The Opposition is calling on Peter Malinauskas to respect the Ombudsman’s determination.
“Peter Malinauskas’ strange secrecy over the potential police barracks sites has caught up with Labor and now he must come clean on what options are being looked at so the community can have their say,” Leader of the Opposition David Speirs said.
“Peter Malinauskas has been pushing this faulty process uphill since day one and if there’s nothing to hide, why is it so hard to reveal the sites under consideration?
“South Australians have rightfully been upset with how Peter Malinauskas has handled this situation and it appears he is determined to demolish precious Park Lands to make way for a barbed wire fence facility.”
Shadow Assistant Minister for Environment and Heritage, Jack Batty, said Peter Malinauskas has been caught out trying to be tricky.
“South Australians deserve to be informed and have a say on the future of their public spaces, but Peter Malinauskas continues to play games with potential locations,” Mr Batty said.
“Peter Malinauskas has been drip feeding information under pressure and if he can tell the public there are four sites on the shortlist, why can’t he go that little bit further and reveal where the locations are?
“Despite promising South Australians he would ‘protect Adelaide’s unique Park Lands’, Peter Malinauskas appears to be hell bent on bringing in the bulldozers and locking the community out from these precious green spaces and turning them into concrete eyesores.
“Instead of keeping secrets, Peter Malinauskas needs to put all the options out on the table and be transparent with the community and allow them to have a genuine say.”
Member for Unley, David Pisoni, said he isn’t buying Peter Malinauskas’ excuses for keeping the potential sites secret.
“Peter Malinauskas says he doesn’t want to create anxiety in the community, but the horse has already bolted because, by refusing to give up details, he’s causing mass anxiety,” Mr Pisoni said.
“Peter Malinauskas has already set the public up for disappointment by suggesting there are options for the barracks outside of the Park Lands.
“The Adelaide Park Lands belong to all South Australians, so it will be a kick in the guts if Peter Malinauskas makes a captain’s call on their future without giving locals a tiny bit of respect by revealing the potential locations.”
