by Shane Sody

The Premier, Peter Malinauskas and the Member for Adelaide, Lucy Hood are both offering opportunities to give your opinion, face-to-face, about their Government's series of Park Lands attacks.

The State Government has authorised six attacks on your Park Lands in its first year of office (see below) and the Premier has signalled that there will be more attacks in future.

On Tuesday evening, 2 May, the Premier is holding a "community forum" for the eastern and inner north-eastern suburbs. His office has described the event, at Payneham, as "open communication between government and community."

There is more than one way to communicate. You can make your point even if the Premier’s minders don’t give you a chance to speak.

Where: San Giorgio La Molara Community Centre, 11 Henry St, Payneham
When: Tuesday 2 May 2023, 6.30pm to 7.30pm.

There is likely to be strong demand for this event. To secure your place, you need to book through the Premier’s office, which is using EventBrite to manage numbers: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/community-forum-tickets-575106417777

The Premier’s office has specified that this event at Payneham is only for people who live or work in the inner north-east or eastern suburbs of Adelaide: Beulah Park, College Park, Evandale, Felixstow, Firle, Glynde, Hackney, Heathpool, Joslin, Kensington, Kensington Gardens, Kensington Park, Kent Town, Marden, Marryatville, Maylands, Norwood, Payneham, Payneham South, Royston Park, St Morris, St Peters, Stepney, or Trinity Gardens.

Those who live in other suburbs may have opportunities to attend similar events at other times, but that is up to the Premier,

Four days later, on Saturday 6 May, the Labor Member for Adelaide, Lucy Hood is holding a series of three “community catch-ups” for people in the City of Adelaide to tell her what’s on your mind.

9.30am: Garden East Apartments, Brooker Building Square
11.00am: Cnr Angas Street & East Tce
12.00pm: Hurtle Square

These three low-key events represent opportunities to get your message across, directly.

If you plan on attending any of these events, you should be aware of the weasel words, the half truths and the falsehoods that Government MPs have been using to disguise their lack of Park Lands love. You can expect the Premier and/or Ms Hood to try diverting your attention; denying the obvious; anything except admit that their decisions actually have negative consequences for your Open Green Public Adelaide Park Lands.

Nevertheless, just being there, and making your point, clearly, to the Premier and/or Ms Hood is one of the most useful things you can do to protect Your Park Lands.