State Election 2026 - Question #3
World Heritage bid
We advised each party that the City Council and others are developing a bid for UNESCO World Heritage recognition of "Adelaide and its Rural Landscapes" (i.e. for the Adelaide Park Lands and the rural settlements of the Mt Lofty Ranges). The City Council has been advised that World Heritage Listing would result in a 20% to 30% increase in international tourism. The bid would require State Government support.
We asked: “If elected, how will you assist in advancing this World Heritage bid?” Here’s what each party replied:
| Party | Party Response | APA evaluation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Justice Party | We need to improve the feasibility of winning the bid and then it will be more attractive. To improve feasibility, the government should demonstrate commitment that it too is also working to protect the Adelaide Park Lands. This would mean preventing further losses, such as not felling trees for the golf course redevelopment. State Heritage listing would also serve to show better commitment. | It's obviously true that the bid cannot succeed without support from the State and Federal Governments. This response does not answer the question: "how will you assist"? | 5 |
| Greens | The Greens SA strongly support the bid for UNESCO World Heritage recognition and would continue to support the bid by lobbying the Labor and Liberal parties to make this a priority in the next parliament. Additionally, the Greens will keep pushing the next Government to support the bid for World Heritage Listing | For an independent or minor party candidate, advocacy to Governments is probably the best that can be done | 10 |
| Liberal Party | An incoming Hurn Liberal Government will pursue the immediate World Heritage Listing of the Adelaide Park Lands. | This response is welcome, but does not address the question of "how" | 6 |
| SA Labor | The Malinauskas Labor Government has supported the process led by the Adelaide City Council for a tentative listing of the Adelaide Park Lands for UNESCO World Heritage status. In January 2023 the South Australian Labor Government wrote to the Australian Government providing support for the tentative listing. The decision on whether to progress a tentative listing in Australia rests with the Australian Government, and specifically the Federal Minister for the Environment and Water. | Referencing a single letter, more than three years ago, indicates nothing about future intentions, and must be judged in the light of an absence of any funding commitment so far | 2 |
| SA Best | |||
| Craig Pickering, independent candidate for Legislative Council | An easy question. Firm and unrelenting advocacy for UNESCO World Heritage recognition that should have occurred many years ago. | For an independent or minor party candidate, advocacy to Governments is probably the best that can be done | 10 |
| Tammy Franks group, independent for Legislative Council | I would advocate to Federal colleagues, as well as to state and national advocacy groups and peak bodies to convince them of the value in such a listing. | For an independent or minor party candidate, advocacy to Governments is probably the best that can be done | 10 |
