On Monday, the SA Premier, Peter Malinauskas proudly released a new Lot 14 Masterplan, joyful that BAE warfare systems was taking a major stake in this central Adelaide defence, space and innovation hub, promising to create between 500 and 800 jobs in the State as well as training a new, high-tech generation. Accompanying his online announcement was a photograph of the old Adelaide Hospital site that’s now got the prosaic name of Lot 14 with what appeared to be just a brief sighting of the planned First Nations cultural museum, Tarrkarri, cut in half to one side.
Was this good news or bad for the project?
For, way back in October 2022, Malinauskas had launched an urgent project review to examine how best to deliver Tarrkarri as a place of international significance that would celebrate all forms of First Nations cultural life. This enquiry followed advice that the $200 million capital budget would only pay for about half of cost of Tarrkarri’s existing design, and would require a significant reduction in scope to deliver within its existing budget.
Ex-Indigenous Australians Minister, Ken Wyatt, Bob Carr, ex-NSW Premier and Carolyn Hewson AO were appointed to conduct the high-level review. The objective of the review was to ensure that the scope, program and budget of the Centre continued to be “benchmarked to a world-class standard and able to attract global visitors”.
This review was delivered in mid-2023 and has never been published or received any substantial comment from the SA Government. But, questioned on Monday as to whether showing only half a Tarkarri was significant, Malinauskas denied any planned cancellation or diminution. “It’s a work in progress and a policy challenge”, he explained about the 2 year delay. “We’re working to secure funding and won’t start without it. Hundreds of millions are involved, and it has to work, not go off half-baked”.
When asked whether the escalating costs since 2022 suggested fiscal indiscipline, the Premier admitted the fact but insisted there was no cut-off date for decision-making, they were just keeping their options open.
