Cash angst in multimillion-dollar RAH lawsuit, Adelaide’s version of Sydney Opera House light show and Nine journalists infiltrating Seven newsroom
THIS week we reveal angst in political and legal circles about a looming decision in a huge RAH lawsuit. Plus, we uncover a plot by 9 News journalists to infiltrate Seven’s newsroom and look inside the Crafers home which once housed a famed SA family’s treasures.
SA News
Don't miss out on the headlines from SA News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THIS week in Off The Record; we reveal angst in political and legal circles about a looming decision in a multimillion-dollar lawsuit involving the State Government and the builders of the $2.4 billion new RAH, in this week’s Off the Record. Plus, we uncover the plot by Channel 9 journalists to infiltrate the Seven newsroom — all for a good cause. We show you inside the Crafers home which once housed the treasure trove of a famed Adelaide family and detail the light show at an Adelaide arts landmark that happens without a firestorm like in Sydney.
Cash angst in RAH lawsuit
A few nails are being bitten in legal and political circles as an arbitration decision looms in a multimillion-dollar lawsuit involving the State Government and builders of the $2.4 billion Royal Adelaide Hospital.
The dispute involves alleged defects at the new hospital mentioned in a Supreme Court row, which was sent for arbitration in late 2016. These include a loading dock 70cm too low and some data rooms built to the wrong size.
Former Federal Court judge Kevin Lindgren QC, an associate at Sydney-based Eleven Wentworth, has been conducting the arbitration process and a decision is expected within weeks.
Off the Record has been told that, in the early stages of the case, there was an expectation, on the Government side of a payout in the order of $600 million. However, without prejudging arbitration, there is now a sense on both sides of the argument that this will be significantly lower.
We asked Treasurer Rob Lucas if he was concerned at the government’s legal fees.
“My general view is that I’m always concerned, with the Treasurer’s hat on, at sizeably large amounts being expended on lawyers and legal processes if there’s a better alternative mechanism to resolve the issues,” he said.
Lucas pointed out the arbitration process had been set up under the former Labor government and said the focus was on getting the hospital, on which taxpayers had spent $2.4 billion, working effectively and efficiently.
He also scotched renewed speculation that RAH operator Celsus’s Private Public Partnership contract would be terminated and another operator installed.
This was raised in 2016, when the RAH completion deadline was missed, but has been reignited in some circles by the appointment in August of KordaMentha to rein in a $250 million health budget deficit substantially blamed on the hospital.
After last month’s State Budget, Lucas spoke out in support of PPPs and said the Government had to show mature handling of them.
Crafers home housed a treasure trove
ONCE home to a multi-million art and antiquities collection, the Crafers home of the late Peter du Plessis, founder of du Plessis Auctions, could now be home to … well … you.
Peter du Plessis, who died in 2016, and his wife Robin bought the 16 The Crescent home in 1990, and his son, auctioneer Marc du Plessis, says it once housed his father’s private collection of arts and antiquities.
Part of this collection sold at auction earlier this year for more than $1.3 million.
“There was one corridor that had 20 paintings down it, the walls were absolutely full of paintings,” he says.
The four-bedroom home is set on more than a hectare of land over two titles, and has a pool, a tennis court and a dam.
“The grandkids all loved the home and they would either spend time in the swimming pool or in the dam, which at one point we had stocked with rainbow trout, and we’d just fish them out and cook them on the barbecue as we wanted them,” Marc du Plessis says.
“It’s just too big for Mum now.”
The property is being sold, without a price guide, through Nick Ploubidis and Chrissy Esau of LJ Hooker Kensington/Unley.
Nine spies pay to study the lives of others at Seven
TALK about venturing deep into enemy territory.
The rivalry between the Seven and Nine newsrooms has reached new heights — or lows depending on which side you are on.
Such is the competition between the two newsrooms — particularly as Seven is now regularly doubling the number of viewers tuning into Nine each night — the respective staff rarely socialise, let alone venture into each other’s bunkers.
But that’s about to change thanks to the cheeky actions of two of Nine’s journos.
The potentially sticky situation arose at a fundraising event last Saturday night. Among the impressive list of donated goods put up for silent auction was a guided tour of the Seven newsroom hosted by Seven newsreaders Jane Doyle, John Riddell, Jessica Adamson and Today Tonight presenter Rosanna Mangiarelli.
The behind-the-scenes tour includes watching the news and Today Tonight being prepared and read, followed by drinkies and nibbles in the Seven boardroom.
Unfortunately for Seven, present in the crowd were a handful of Nine news journos including Ben Avery and Jarrad Brevi, pictured. Obviously spotting an opportunity to wreak some havoc, the pair made a number of bids in the silent auction for the newsroom tour and emerged victorious — parting with $175.
When advised of the auction result Seven news director Chris Salter was somewhat stunned, but now appears to be warming to the encounter.
“We’re flattered Nine’s young journos want to come and see how it is done,’’ he told Off the Record.
Avery wryly told Off The Record that “someone had to buy it.’’
Legal move
MARION Mayor Kris Hanna has questioned the Local Government Association of SA’s new legal partnership with HWL Ebsworth.
The lawyer and former state MP said, at a council meeting on Tuesday night, that LGA chief executive Matt Pinnegar and the firm’s partner, Michael Durrant, were friends.
The council this week formally asked the LGA to clarify the tender process.
LGA commercial executive director Steve Nolis said Pinnegar (above) was not involved in the tender process.
“The process of selecting the LGA’s preferred legal service provider was independently conducted by LGA Procurement,” he said.
“A select tender was run, with six law firms invited to participate.”
HWL Ebsworth, one of Australia’s largest law firms, was recommended when the procurement process was completed before it was endorsed by the LGA board executive.
The LGA predicts the agreement will save councils up to $2 million a year.
Light show
AMID the firestorm over promoting tomorrow’s The Everest horse race with a light show on the Sydney Opera House, our own landmark arts venue is quietly getting on with the job.
Adelaide Festival Centre CEO and artistic director Douglas Gautier (below) tells us: “We periodically use the AFC shells for projected images to promote shows, events and, sometimes, acknowledging the sponsors who make them possible.
“The large screens outside Festival Theatre on King William Rd are also used to publicise shows, festivals and for specially commissioned visual art installations.”
Ministers boot the limousines
PERHAPS it is a commendable desire to save taxpayer funds or they might just enjoy getting a bit of fresh air.
But Off the Record has noticed several Liberal ministers eschewing their publicly funded limousines to ferry them to sittings of State Parliament and, instead, strolling down King William St.
It’s a relatively short walk from the State Administration Centre and other ministerial offices dotted about the CBD to Parliament House. But colleagues tell us many Labor ministers preferred the cars.
We’ve noticed Police Minister Corey Wingard and Treasurer Rob Lucas strolling, minus staff.
Lucas tells us he often stops past the Myer Centre food court, visiting a Japanese eatery with which he became very familiar during the long, dark days of Opposition (when his office was at Parliament.)
Lucas enjoys the chicken teriyaki, so stops there for lunch before the rigours of Parliament begin.
Battle to save animals on the brink at Outback reserve
Conservationists are battling to save animals at an Outback reserve from the effects of the worst drought in recent memory, and have received a funding boost to redouble their efforts.
Country tradie to face court over incomplete work
A country tradesman will face the Elizabeth Magistrates Court over allegations he was not licenced and refused to refund money to clients.