by Shane Sody, with Tim Jackson
Over the past 15, months, a determined community activist has delivered a stream of questions to Premier, Peter Malinauskas, in an effort to understand why his Government is targeting your Park Lands for commercial developments.
Former Local Government executive, and “for purpose” director and current “active citizen” Tim Jackson has prefaced his questions with a polite explanation of why he is asking:
“Dear Mr Premier,
I ask questions that are intended to lead to better informed citizens. Accountability and transparency to citizens is the foundation on which our democracy is built.”
Tim Jackson
On 2 October Mr Jackson asked the Premier, “in pursuit of accountability and transparency” the following questions about the Government’s planned North Adelaide Golf Course “re-development” in Possum Park / Pirltawardli (Park 1 of your Adelaide Park Lands.)
1. Why were citizens excluded from the decision making in respect of this part of the Adelaide Park Lands?
2. Why does the North Adelaide Golf Course Act exclude citizens from future decision making regarding this part of the Adelaide Park Lands?
3. Why was it necessary to change the status of the land to fee simple by way of the North Adelaide Golf Course Act?
4. What is the quantum of taxpayer funds that will be committed to this redevelopment project?
5. Was a business plan prepared to justify this expenditure?
6. What is the government’s justification for entering into a commercial partnership with a corporation owned by a nation with one of the world’s worst human rights records?
Earlier, in October, Mr Jackson asked similar questions to the Member for Adelaide, Labor’s Lucy Hood:
1. Did you support the North Adelaide Golf Course Act?
2. If so, why?
3. Why were citizens excluded from the decision making in respect of this part of the Adelaide Park Lands?
4. Why does the Act exclude citizens from future decision making regarding this part of the Adelaide Park Lands?
5. Why was it necessary to change the status of the land to fee simple by way of the Act?
6. What is the quantum of taxpayer funds that will be committed to this redevelopment project?
7. Was a business plan prepared to justify this expenditure?
8. If so, have you read it?
9. What is your justification in supporting the government entering into a commercial partnership with a corporation owned by a nation with one of the world’s worst human rights records?
10. Are the financial losses of $1.1 billion incurred by LIV over the last three financial years of concern?
These are just the latest in a series of questions Mr Jackson has put to various Government members on a variety of subjects. On his LinkedIn posts, Mr Jackson keeps advising his followers about what he terms the “accountability and transparency scorecard” for those who’ve received his questions
For the Premier, Peter Malinauskas, Mr Jackson advised, on 30 November 2025:
Number of questions asked: 45
Number of questions answered: 4
Longest period unanswered: 15 months
Number of subjects: 10
Extract from a Government leaflet issued in 2023, offering a chance to “ask questions” at a public forum in North Adelaide.
For the Member for Adelaide, Lucy Hood, MP, Mr Jackson advised, on 30 November 2025:
Number of questions asked: 62
Number of questions answered: 0
Longest period unanswered: 10 months
Number of subjects: 6
What is “Ghosting”? One definition is: “The shutdown or ceasing of communication with someone without notice.”
“Ghosting” you: other unanswered questions
Mr Jackson is not the only one waiting patiently (and forlornly) for answers from the State Government. More than a month ago, a high-powered delegation from the Save Festival Plaza Alliance submitted 24 pointed questions to the Premier, regarding the proposed 38-storey office building, proposed for Festival Plaza, within Park 26 of your Park Lands.
Read those unanswered questions here.
And for more than 18 months, the Planning Minister, Nick Champion has been “ghosting” Park Lands supporters, by refusing to respond to written questions that we had earlier put to him in a meeting on 17 April 2024.
