State Parliament to get new ‘wee’ fence to prevent ‘vagrants consistently using the area as a toilet facility’, leaked documents claim

Taxpayers will pay for new security fence at the epicentre of the city’s anti-social problems around parliament to stop it being used as a toilet, leaked documents say.

Hammond MP Adrian Pederick, who has publicly raised concerns about the anti-social behaviour around North Tce and Parliament House, pictured in front of the area where the new fence will be erected. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Taxpayers will pay for new security at the epicentre of the city’s anti-social crisis around Parliament House to stop it being constantly used as a toilet, leaked documents claim.

Parliamentary authorities ordered new works, including a new security fence around the building’s southeast corner, to prevent frequent damage to property in the area.

State politicians who authorise parliament’s upgrade have been told the fence, which could be 1.2m high on the corner facing the North Tce and King William St intersection – adjacent CCTV cameras – is needed to stop damage to lights and other equipment.

Police on North Tce outside Parliament House, which is considered at the centre of rising anti-social behaviour in the CBD. Picture: Brett Hartwig

“Building services are investigating the possibility of installing a new security fence around the existing retaining wall to prevent vagrants consistently using the area as a toilet facility,” a leaked agenda of the bipartisan Joint Parliamentary Service Committee stated.

While the issue was not specifically raised at a committee meeting on Monday, it is understood authorities have since approved construction after the 25-page report was written last week.

Costs, other details on its size and scope or a start date have yet to be investigated but sources suggested the taxpayer bill could be less than $10,000.

In a statement on Monday, Lower House Speaker, Dan Cregan, who sits on the committee said his advice was the works were “not related to any specific incident”.

“A fence will be erected to protect the light wells on the southeastern corner of parliament,” he said.

MP Dan Cregan (second from right) on the walk with fellow MPs from Parliament House on North Terrace to Government House for his swearing in as Speaker in the state parliament's lower house. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

Police are cracking down on the CBD crime wave’s rising alcohol-fuelled violence and anti-­social behaviour blighting Adelaide’s most popular areas.

Authorities are particularly concerned at “hotspot” areas on the western part of North Tce, surrounding the Convention Centre, Adelaide Railway Station and parliament.

City business owners have reported rising tensions involving fights, harassment of customers – forcing tourists to use hospitality workers as chaperones – and public areas being used as toilets.

Earlier this month, MPs and parliament staff working late were told to leave in pairs, avoid long waits for buses and be vigilant to violent incidents.

Operation Paragon have flooded more officers into “hotspot” areas around North Tce in a bid to quell the violent crime and unruly behaviour.

Senior police have also proposed a new Declared Public Precinct zone to significantly widen special anti-social laws outside the West End.

Attorney-General Kyam Maher is considering those plans.

Police Minister Joe Szakacs said while “public acts of anti-social behaviour in any form are unacceptable”, no concerns had been raised about “urination in the precinct”.

“I’ve spoken directly with the presiding officer of the House of Assembly on this matter and he has advised me that no specific incidents have been raised,” he said.

An Opposition spokesman would not comment.

Labor laughs off Libs’ party tax plan

The city’s crime wave crisis should be solved with new, more targeted police resources and funding for security from major events, the Opposition has proposed.

The Liberal Party will today announce details of its “Safer Adelaide CBD” policy initiative for new police resourcing, rather than shifting officers from different areas, to focus on “high crime areas” with more foot patrols or presence.

The Opposition also propose taking a “portion of funding for security” from major events.

But the state government dismissed the “laughable” intervention and argued proposing a “further tax to major events” was counter-productive and not a measure Ministers were considering.

In a joint party-room discussion paper Opposition leader David Speirs, and police spokesman Sam Telfer, welcomed the new police crackdown but government response that appeared temporary and reallocating existing resources.

They also said Premier Peter Malinauskas had “failed to take action”. “It would appear that things would need to get much worse before this Labor government will act,” they said.

“This represents an unacceptable impact to the livelihoods of the public and the businesses of the CBD.”

Hitting back, Police Minister Joe Szakacs said it was “impossible” to miss a visible increase in patrols.

“Months after our government revised takeaway liquor restrictions – and two weeks after we announced a significant increase in targeted CBD measures to combat anti-social behaviour – the Opposition have finally decided to make some suggestions,” he said.

“What David Speirs and the Liberal Party are talking about today are strategies this government has already put in place.” He said the Opposition “must have missed” the $81.8 million budget for police while all major event security is already adequately provisioned.