Adelaide Economic Development Agency faces probe into operations

The divisive Adelaide Economic Development Agency, which host ADL Fashion Week, has failed in a bid to avoid an independent inquiry into its operations.

The controversial Adelaide Economic Development Agency will face an independent inquiry into its operations.

The agency, which is run by private-sector experts, sits at arm’s length of Adelaide City Council to distribute grants as well as promote city-centre businesses.

Councillor Janet Giles won approval for an independent inquiry into AEDA’s accountability and effectiveness.

But last month, she said she discovered that AEDA had tried to absorb the independent probe.

Ms Giles said after complaining about the process, the independent review would now go ahead.

“I met with the council chief executive officer and the Deputy Lord Mayor to discuss my concerns and to keep the process independent,” she said.

“We will conduct our own review, not rely on the board process.”

AEDA was formed in 2021 but has fallen foul of the new left-dominated council, which took over the dominant and conservative Team Adelaide council at the November 2022 election.

AEDA has been praised for some initiatives like ADL Fashion Week, which attracted big names like actor Teresa Palmer.

Deloittes is conducting the independent inquiry, which is likely to be finished in June.

“From a governance perspective, both the AEDA board and council consider it is timely to examine how the agency is performing against its original intent,’’ council acting chief operating officer Steve Zaluski said on behalf of AEDA.

Left-wing councillors have expressed concerns about:

LACK of transparency about funding and spending;

FEES reported by sources to be $1000 per meeting for AEDA board members;

ILL-DEFINED outcomes in a budget submission this month;

MODEST targets; and

CONFLICTING branding between AEDA and the ACC.

But supporters, mainly in the private sector, have praised AEDA’s popular dining voucher campaigns.