Premier Peter Malinauskas hit by backlash from Labor MPs over decision to host rebel LIV Golf tour with ‘Saudi dirty money’

Premier Peter Malinauskas has faced an internal backlash from his own MPs over luring a major golf event with links to the Saudi Arabian government.

Premier Peter Malinauskas has faced an internal backlash from his own MPs over luring a major golf event with links to the Saudi Arabian government.

Sources said at least five MPs criticised the Premier during Tuesday’s caucus meeting for not consulting his backbench on the decision to provide taxpayer-support to the LIV Golf Tour.

Among those who raised concerns are believed to include Labor MPs Sarah Andrews, Olivia Savvas, Nadia Clancy, Irene Pnevmatikos, Dana Wortley.

All either declined to comment or not return calls.

The Premier, who doubled down on defence amid a wider public backlash, said he welcomed spirited debate but denied he hadn’t consulted his MPs.

“This is utterly healthy in my view,” he said.

“I’m really keen to make sure that people are across all of the details. And to say what an exciting proposition this is.”

He said farmers sell produce to the Middle East.

“But I think there needs to be a degree of consideredness applied to all of this,” he said.

“Having LIV golf, having a tournament in Adelaide doesn’t equate to support of Saudi Arabia.

“The most parties pushing that argument are those who’re trying to protect the monopoly for the US PGA, which hasn’t done anything for our state let alone the country.”

The major announcement to host the controversial series – which will see the biggest stars in world golf descend on Adelaide in April – has divided South Australians.

The LIV Golf Tour has the financial backing of Saudi Arabia’s government’s Public Investment Fund.

That same government has come under fire for its poor record when it comes to human rights, most notably in 2018 when Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi dissident journalist was assassinated by agents of the government.

LIV Golf chief executive Greg Norman has been repeatedly accused of “sportswashing” – the act of using sports to give legitimacy to despots – with the Saudis.

But Mr Malinauskas said by hosting the event he wasn’t defending Saudi Arabia’s human-rights record.

LIVE Golf CEO Greg Norman with Premier Peter Malinauskas, announcing Adelaide would host the event. NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

“Absolutely there are human-rights issues with Saudi Arabia, I think that’s well documented,” he said.

“I think there needs to be a degree of consideredness applied to all of this. Having LIV Golf, having a tournament in Adelaide doesn’t equate to support of Saudi Arabia.”

Mr Malinauskas has denied rumours that SA was paid to host the event. He said it was quite the opposite, that the state government was paying an undisclosed amount.

But he said the money wasn’t going to Saudi Arabia.

“The contract that we’ve negotiated with LIV Golf makes it clear that the state government’s investment in the event is to exclusively run and host the event in Adelaide,” he said.

“It’s not like our money is going off to Saudi Arabia.”

Opposition leader David Speirs said if they were being paid to host the event, the state would be receiving “dirty money”.

“This is a sporting code funded by a despotic Saudi Arabian dictator – in my view it is funded to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. Their human-rights record particularly around women and LGBTI rights is just shocking,” he said.

Mr Malinauskas hit back at Mr Spiers, accusing him of “acute undeniable hypocrisy”.

“David Speirs signed the South Australian government and taxpayer up to a commercial relationship with the Harvest Rock Festival, which is wholly operated by Live Nation,” he said.

“David Speirs in government only months ago … actively endorsed an engagement with Live Nation, owned by the Public Investment Fund, which is also what runs LIV Golf.”