Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell urges push to get people into Adelaide CBD

Labor “Godfather” Don Farrell wants a united push to return city workers and tourists to Adelaide’s heart in the aftermath of Covid.

Labor “Godfather” Don Farrell is urging a united push to bring people back to an Adelaide CBD still reeling from hammer blows of Covid shutdowns and a work-from-home exodus.

The federal Trade and Tourism Minister – a west-end city resident since 1976 and former shop assistants’ union chief – says many businesses have not have not recovered from the pandemic onslaught.

In an interview with The Advertiser, Senator Farrell said hospitality venues, in particular, were hurting and called for a city-boosting campaign aimed at recapturing the vibe from the invigorating AFL Gather Round.

Senator Farrell, known as “The Godfather” for mentoring Labor figures including Premier Peter Malinauskas, was responding to Advertiser reports about a city crime surge and untidy streets.

Don Farrell wants a plan in place to lure workers back to the city. Picture: Tom Huntley

Premier Peter Malinauskas and Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell on a trade mission in Japan in October 2022. Picture: Facebook

Senator Farrell said city workers had not returned to pre-Covid levels and businesses were suffering as a result.

“I think the situation has improved a little bit (since the Covid shutdowns) but not significantly, so that means businesses aren’t really getting back to normal, particularly in the hospitality sector. I think there’s going to have to be a longer-term view taken to getting those numbers back,” Senator Farrell said.

“People are still not coming in for some days of the week – they’re certainly not coming in for every day of the week.

“There’s still a lot of places which might be open but they’re not at the numbers they used to be and some places just haven’t reopened.”

A deserted Rundle Mall during a Covid-19 lockdown on July 26, 2021. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

Asked what needed to be done to boost Adelaide’s CBD, Senator Farrell said: “We saw just how fabulous it was during the Gather Round having the city full of people. I just think, from the state government to the city council, there’s got to be a bit of a push to get people back into the city.

“Not just for big events like that but on a regular basis. I think there’s got to be some consideration given to how we might get people back into the city and re-establish that vibrancy that people were talking about over the (Gather Round) weekend.”

Senator Farrell, also the Government Deputy Senate Leader, said this push should target tourists and city workers.

“I think the state government’s been doing a good job of focusing on getting these events to Adelaide. But it’s just not for the big events – we need to get those people on a regular basis,” he said.

“These businesses will become viable again when you’ve got the usual number of workers popping in for a coffee in the morning, or going for lunch, or hanging around for a drink after work.”

A government spokesman said SA businesses, particularly in hospitality, had made sacrifices for the wider community and major events like Gather Round and LIV Golf were investments to bring the city to life.

“We recognise there is more to do but the signs are extremely promising,” he said.

The government spokesman highlighted figures showing Adelaide growing at a faster rate than Sydney, office occupancy at about 80 per cent of pre-Covid levels and retail spending in cafes, restaurants and takeaways up 17 per cent on pre-Covid levels.

Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith said every opportunity to grab events such as Gather Round should be taken “if we want to have our city feeling vibrant year-round” and vowed Adelaide City Council would “be a partner to make this happen”.